Gate - the The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC)

Because of the nature of economic migration to the new opportunities the nation's capital, family
networks in the FCT are generally very small, as in-migrating people are largely cut off from their
larger kin networks in home areas. The lack of larger family structures often poses serious problems
for persons who need care and support, as there are fewer grandparents or other kin to help with
home-based care. Some of the same family and population dynamics affect risk-taking behaviors, as
young people have fewer social constraints on sexual activities and other behaviors that make them
vulnerable to HIV infection. Thus there are a variety of factors that put the FCT among the most at-
risk states with regard to HIV infections. The recently published UNDP Human Resources Report
gives an estimate of 8.4 percent HIV+ for the FCT population, considerably higher than the national
average, which is around five percent. Only three states are thought to have higher rates of HIV
than the FCT. Of those, Cross River, with an estimated 12 percent, is the most seriously affected.
The Nigerian Governmental Structures for Combating the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Action Committees have been created on the national (NACA), state (SACA) and local (LACA)
levels. The purpose of the three-tiered structure is to make programs more sensitive to local needs,
and therefore, more effective. NACA, a multisectoral, multidisciplinary group consisting of the top
government ministers, and leaders from the private sector, is charged with making policies that
guide the development and implementation of programs at the state and local levels. SACA and
LACA coordinate all HIV/AIDS activities on their respective levels. Each state and the FCT have
one SACA, whereas LACA organizations are formed in the various local government areas.
NACA financial resources, fortified with addition funds obtained by the SACAs and LACAs, are
channeled to the various action committees, which in turn, support local governments, civic and
private organizations to actualize the programs.
Parallel to the action committees are the Planning Teams that manage the NACA and SACAs and
provider technical assistance. LACAs also can form LPTs, although the majority has not yet done
so. The National Planning Team (NPT) and the State Planning Teams (SPT) provide the technical
expertise that most committee members do not have. In addition, the planning teams perform all the
management and administrative duties for the action committees.
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