Lagos State, Nigeria - Family Health International

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In-Depth Assessment Report Out-of-School Youth The study reveals that a large number of youth in the state do not attend school. In the study sites alone, nearly 20,000 youth are estimated out-of-school — 10,000 from Ojo, 6,000 from Epe. Most of these youths are in the streets; some form gangs such as ‘area boys’, others are touts or the much-talkedabout “undesirable element” found in cult activities and illegal drug distribution. Others are bus conductors or street hawkers. A few of the out-of-school youth are apprentices, mostly in mechanics and related trades. Major attention must be given to these youths in order to curb the menace of HIV/AIDS, since many have been associated with reckless sexual activities. Condom Outlets Outlets are numerous throughout the state. In Ojo alone, 100 outlets were identified, with reports that 10,000 condoms are sold monthly. In Ajeromi-Ifelodun, 200 outlets were found. The number could be even greater, given the urban nature of Lagos State and the fact that condoms enter the sites through various inconspicuous sources. Non-Governmental Organisations Only a few NGOs are located in the sites, mostly in Ojo and Ajeromi-Ifelodun. However, we were able to identify 20 NGOs throughout the state (see appendix). NGOs have demonstrated or expressed interest in programs aimed at preventing or managing HIV/AIDS. They can be of great help to FHI/Nigeria initiatives. 46 Community Leaders Community leaders are generally well informed and knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. They are respected and command a lot of influence – they have mobilised their communities to promote health-related and socio-economic activities from which the people have benefited tremendously. Their activities and influence are most noticeable in Ojo and Lagos Mainland, where some of them double as traditional rulers or ‘Baale’. They are willing to cooperate and be involved in mobilisation and enlightenment activities. They will donate land/space for screen centres if needed. FHI could enlist their support and channel their assets appropriately to enhance its programs. Care and Support Most care and support activities are located in the Mainland LGA sites. When this LGA’s LACA was launched, it attracted a budget of half a million naira. Other organisations such as NRC and Mainland hospitals provide specialized services including TB care, HIV/AIDS management, ARV therapy and provision of VCT.
11. Recommendations Lagos State will benefit greatly from a mini-comprehensive program targeting the high-risk groups selected in the state: Ojo LGA, Lagos Mainland LGA, and Ajeromi- Ifelodun LGA. It is hoped that other high-risk LGAs initially identified, namely Ikeja and Epe, will also benefit from the program – as will the entire state in the long run. Meanwhile, we offer the following specific recommendations: 1. Focus more on sex workers and, by extension, their clients. They still constitute a major danger of spreading STI, HIV/AIDS in Lagos State. 2. Encourage and strengthen condom use – but products should be of high quality and distribution should be free (if possible). 3. Discourage sex workers – possibly explore alternative trades through the LGA/community or charity organisations. 4. Reach in- and out-of-school youth to reduce their high risk sexual behaviour. Give special attention to students from secondary schools and universities, particularly LASU. 5. Reach men with multiple sex partners and petty traders/low-income women. They constitute a great risk because they are not likely to use condoms. 6. Find ways for program to benefit truckers/bus drivers, okada operators, mechanics and other artisans. 47 Lagos State 7. Establish condom-friendly hotels by targeting hotel owners’ associations and FSW chairladies for programming. 8. Utilise community leaders and community development associations with the ability to provide their publics with information during program planning and implementation. 9. Strengthen hospital counselling units of the hospitals by training more personnel. Identified PLHA should be encouraged to form support groups. 10. Carry out a thorough analysis of youths’ sexual behaviours in various communities. What we have observed in Lagos is probably applicable to other communities, particularly in our society.
Page 1 and 2: Lagos State, Nigeria Report of the
Page 3 and 4: 3 Lagos State 6. Lagos Mainland LGA
Page 5 and 6: Acronyms AIDS Acquired Immune Defic
Page 7 and 8: 1. Introduction/Background A situat
Page 9 and 10: 3. Response to the HIV/AIDS Epidemi
Page 11 and 12: 4.4 Selection of Consultants Before
Page 13 and 14: 5. Findings 5.1 Ojo Local Governmen
Page 15 and 16: 5.5 Identification of Vulnerable Po
Page 17 and 18: 5.5.5 Other Vulnerable Populations
Page 19 and 20: 5.12 Conclusions It is obvious from
Page 21 and 22: 6.3 Ethnographic Overview Lagos Mai
Page 23 and 24: 6.4.4 Out-Of-School Youth Lagos Mai
Page 25 and 26: any of them because of drugs and pe
Page 27 and 28: 7.3 Ethnographic Overview LGA/Site
Page 29 and 30: 7.4.5 Other Vulnerable Populations
Page 31 and 32: 7.9 Care and Support Though HIV car
Page 33 and 34: 8.3 Ethnographic Overview LGA/Site
Page 35 and 36: 8.4.3 In-School Youth LGA/Site 1. I
Page 37 and 38: 8.7.5 Onilekere Like Onigbongbo/Bar
Page 39 and 40: 9.3 Ethnographic Overview LGA/State
Page 41 and 42: 9.4.2 Truckers/Bus Drivers LGA/Site
Page 43 and 44: 9.7 Ethnographic Account Epe, the
Page 45: 10. State Summary and Conclusion Th
Page 49 and 50: Appendix II: Life History of a Sex
Page 51 and 52: Appendix III Cont. S/N 22 23 24 25
Page 53 and 54: Notes 53 Lagos State
Page 55 and 56: Notes 55 Lagos State

Lagos State, Nigeria - Family Health International

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