Building Capacity for Better Care: Two-Day Training on Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Services for ART Coordinators in Kano

-


In a critical step towards strengthening HIV care for young people, a two-day capacity building workshop was held for ART Coordinators across the 43 comprehensive treatment centers in Kano State. The training, which was supported by U.S. President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and facilitated by Rahama Girl Child and Women Empowerment Initiative (RAHAMA) and Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KSACA) focused on Adolescent and Youth-Friendly (AYF) services, bringing together healthcare professionals committed to improving access, quality, and responsiveness of services tailored to the unique needs of adolescents and young people (AYPs) living with HIV from 12th - 13th May 2025.

The interactive training featured a well-rounded agenda designed to equip participants with the knowledge, tools, and approaches necessary to provide empathetic, age-appropriate, and high-quality care. The sessions were led by a diverse group of facilitators with expertise in adolescent health, communication, mental health, and service delivery.

Key Modules and Facilitators

  • Understanding Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV & Principles of AYF Services

    Led by Hajiya Muna Adamu, ART/AYP Focal Person, this session explored the emotional, social, and developmental needs of AYPs, emphasizing the principles of confidentiality, accessibility, equity, and non-discrimination in adolescent healthcare.

  • Effective Communication Skills
    Facilitated by Nurse Bilkisu Saleh, this module equipped participants with interpersonal communication techniques tailored to adolescents, focusing on building trust and promoting adherence to treatment.

  • Key Considerations for Implementing AYF Services
    Aisha Linatu Abdulrahman guided participants through the operational realities of introducing and sustaining youth-friendly services. Her session stressed the importance of community involvement, youth participation, and facility readiness.

  • Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
    Dr. Umar Musa, a psychiatrist, highlighted the mental health challenges often faced by AYPs living with HIV. He called for integrated psychosocial support within ART programs to improve retention and health outcomes.

  • Global Standards for High-Quality Adolescent Healthcare
    In a second session, Hajiya Muna Adamu introduced participants to WHO’s global standards, advocating for quality benchmarks and self-assessment tools to help facilities continuously improve service delivery.

  • Review of Feedback Mechanism Tools
    Aisha Linatu Abdulrahman led an interactive session reviewing feedback tools aimed at amplifying the voices of young clients. She emphasized that feedback loops are essential in creating safe, responsive, and client-centered services.

  • Clinical Management of AYPs Living with HIV
    Dr. Ummi from GGHN delivered a clinically-focused session on the medical management of HIV in adolescents and young adults, addressing treatment protocols, disclosure, and comorbidity considerations.

Participatory Strategies

The training was highly participatory, utilizing:

  • Brainstorming sessions to encourage reflection and idea sharing.

  • Group work for collaborative problem-solving and action planning.

  • Role plays to simulate real-life service delivery scenarios and improve interpersonal skills.

These interactive methods created a dynamic learning environment, ensuring that participants not only understood the concepts but also felt confident in applying them in their respective facilities.





A Call to Action

In his closing remarks, the Director General of the Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS emphasized the urgent need to institutionalize adolescent and youth-friendly services across all treatment centers. He reiterated that ensuring access to responsive and inclusive services is not just a strategic imperative but a moral obligation to the youth of Kano.

“If we want to truly end the HIV epidemic, we must meet young people where they are—listen to them, respect them, and serve them with dignity,” the DG stated.




Looking Ahead

With strengthened capacity and renewed commitment, the ART Coordinators are now better positioned to transform service delivery for AYPs across Kano. The two-day training marks a pivotal step in building a healthcare system that sees, hears, and supports its youngest clients in their journey toward health and hope.

More Photos here








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WE ARE HIRING IN KATSINA - FIELD OFFICERS & CASE MANAGEMENT OFFICERS

-
Image
  Project Title: Community-Led Integrated Health Promotion and Referral Support in Zango LGA, Katsina State Location: Zango Local Government Area, Katsina State Duration: June 2025 – January 2026 Reports to : Project Lead, RAHAMA 1. Background RAHAMA Girl Child and Women Empowerment Initiative, in partnership with Médecins du Monde (MdM), is implementing a project titled  “Community-Led Integrated Health Promotion and Referral Support”  in Zango LGA, Katsina State. The project aims to improve public health outcomes and health system responsiveness by enhancing health literacy, promoting access to services, strengthening community structures, and establishing effective referral and feedback mechanisms. As part of the intervention, RAHAMA is recruiting qualified and passionate individuals to serve as  Field Officers  and  Case Management Officers (CMOs)  to support community-level implementation and GBV response. 2. Purpose of the Position Both position...
Read more

Social Media Influencers Engagement

-
Image
Background Rahama Girl Child and Women Empowerment Initiative (RAHAMA) is implementing a crucial initiative to enhance community-led monitoring and virtual engagement for HIV services among adolescents and young people in Kano State. This initiative has been necessitated by the increasing rates of HIV among this demographic. The organization recognizes the critical role of social media influencers in reaching adolescents and young people through engaging content that resonates with their followers. This Terms of Reference (ToR) outlines the expectations, responsibilities, and scope of work for social media influencers involved in promoting HIV services. Objective The key objectives of this social media intervention are to: Deploy social media tools to improve the knowledge of adolescents and young people regarding HIV services in Kano State. Provide a platform for discussions and the elimination of social stigmatization against people living with HIV. Utilize interactive strategies to ...
Read more

JOB ADVERT - PROJECT COORDINATOR

-
Image
We are looking for an applicant with a University Degree or its equivalent in Public Health, Nursing or Health related fields. A master’s degree as well as certificate in Project Management will be an added advantage. The candidate should possess a minimum of 4 years' relevant work experience in project management of health focused projects. S/he should have proven experience working on HIV and Adolescent and Young People (AYP) projects. S/he must possess skills in quality and timely report writing, excellent communication, leadership, interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and within a team environment, proficiency in Microsoft office Suite and project management tools. Fluency in English and Hausa Project Coordinator - Kano Please respond to the requirements of the role in your cover letter. Only CVs and cover letters in English will be accepted. Location: Kano Type of Role: 1 Year Contract  Closing Date: 15th September, 2024 Expected Start Date: 1st October, 2024 Eq...
Read more