Hope Ajayi 
ANAMBRA, Nigeria – The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has launched a campus-based HIV response initiative across 27 tertiary institutions to strengthen HIV prevention, awareness and support services among young people.
The initiative, known as the Campus Action Committee on AIDS (CACA), was unveiled during the inauguration of HIV focal persons from participating institutions in Awka, the state capital, on Sunday.
Speaking at the event on Sunday, the Executive Director and Project Manager of ANSACA, Dr Nkem Okeke, said the agency would train and formally inaugurate the committees to ensure that their activities comply with professional and ethical standards.
Okeke said ANSACA was engaging tertiary institutions to strengthen HIV prevention, awareness and control interventions while working with designated focal persons.
He explained that each campus committee would comprise a representative of the school authority and a student representative.
“Under the exercise, participating institutions are expected to establish campus committees comprising students from different departments and levels,” Okeke said.
According to him, ANSACA will provide training and formally inaugurate the committees to ensure that their activities are properly guided.
The initiative is expected to provide an additional campus-level structure for Anambra’s HIV response, complementing existing interventions at the national, state, local government and ward levels.
Okeke acknowledged the support of the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, saying the administration’s renewed commitment to HIV prevention and control was critical to expanding interventions across the state.
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Korede Abdullah 
Mirian Gom 
