Protecting girls from sexual violence is key to HIV prevention – ANSACA
By Obianuju Isima
Protecting the girl child from sexual violence is not only a matter of safety and human rights but also a critical part of preventing HIV infection, the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has said.
The agency issued the warning during the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, calling for stronger action against gender based violence, sexual abuse and exploitation that threaten the health, dignity and future of girls.
ANSACA Executive Director, Dr. Nkem Okeke, said efforts to prevent HIV among adolescent girls and young women would remain incomplete without tackling the violence and inequalities that expose them to infection.
He commended Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration for its child protection measures, free education, strengthened legal safeguards and efforts to combat sexual exploitation.
Okeke also highlighted the importance of the directive to investigate and prosecute gender based inheritance discrimination under the Anambra State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017, describing it as a measure aimed at protecting the rights of women and girls.
The ANSACA boss further praised the Wife of the Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, for her advocacy against child abuse through the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative and her support for justice, protection and rehabilitation for survivors.
Beyond awareness campaigns, ANSACA stressed that survivors need immediate access to appropriate medical care. This includes HIV post exposure prophylaxis, a preventive treatment that must be started within 72 hours of possible exposure, alongside counselling and psychosocial and legal support.
The agency urged families, schools, community leaders and security agencies to take reports of abuse seriously, strengthen protective systems and ensure survivors are treated with dignity rather than stigma.
It also called for closer cooperation between government institutions, healthcare providers and civil society groups to make HIV prevention an integral part of responses to gender based violence.
As Anambra works towards its target of an AIDS free state by 2030, Okeke said every girl must have the opportunity to grow up safe, educated and empowered, without the threat of violence, discrimination or HIV.
The message is clear: protecting girls must extend beyond celebration to practical action that safeguards their lives and futures.
