Amid the shrinking global funding on public healthcare, stakeholders have called for strategic and evidence based advocacies that would drive policy changes and foster more inclusive healthcare system in Nigeria.

They made the call on Thursday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the end of a two-day capacity building workshop tagged “Evidence-Based Advocacy for Gender-Responsive HIV, TB, and Malaria Response” organized by Lawyers Alert in collaboration with the Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria, MHR and supported by the Gender Equality Fund, GEF.

The keynote speaker, Moses Essien who is also the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State House Committee on Health, harped on the need to strengthen response to HIV, TB, and Malaria, especially from a gender-sensitive perspective.

He added that these diseases impact women, girls, and marginalized communities, who often face difficulty accessing timely treatments and care.

Essien reaffirmed the commitment of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to supporting advocacy initiatives that promote improved healthcare delivery across the state.

On his part, the Programme Manager, Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS, AKSACA, Dr Enobong Akpan, harped on the need for stronger advocacy in view of evolving global funding priorities. He cited the recent withdrawal of foreign aid for HIV programs by the United States as a wake-up call for Nigeria to prioritize local strategies for sustainability.

According to him, “The era of integration is here. We have learned from the experience of the recent withdrawal of foreign aid for HIV by the USA, and we are working tirelessly to strengthen the local response. One of the key drivers of sustainable funding and improved healthcare delivery is strong advocacy.”

He urged participating CSOs to utilize the knowledge gained from the workshop to push for policies that guarantee long-term funding and gender-responsive interventions.

Also speaking, Olayemi Agoro, Director of Administration and Finance at Lawyers Alert, said unpredictable decisions, such as the U.S. president’s recent executive order impacting HIV funding underscore the need for proactive engagement by Nigerian CSOs and policymakers.

He noted that Nigeria must be ready for eventualities, saying the best way forward is through strategic advocacy for HIV, TB, and malaria responses that serve the communities effectively.

Ufuoma Eguriase, Programme Manager of Media, Health & Rights Initiative of Nigeria, MHR, described “advocacy” as the heart of development and enjoined participants to take it as a core part of all their interventions.

In her address, Peace Okeshola, Legal Advisor at Lawyers Alert, reiterated the need for targeted advocacy in addressing gender-based barriers to healthcare access. She stressed that many women and girls face systemic inequalities that prevent them from receiving timely and adequate treatment for HIV, TB, and malaria.

While calling for collective action among civil society organizations, the media, and policymakers to push for meaningful reforms; Okeshola said through strategic engagement, “we can drive policy changes, obtain resources, and mobilize stakeholders to create a more inclusive healthcare system.”