Benin– U.S. Consul General F. John Bray and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Nigeria Michael Harvey attended the launch of a US$1 million program to support HIV/AIDS-affected children and families. H.E. First Lady of Edo State Iara Oshiomhole and Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Aenena Jemitola Fulani-Ojo hosted the launch event at the Banquet Hall of the Edo State Government House.
This program, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through USAID, will help lift out of poverty 15,000 families affected by HIV/AIDS in Edo, Benue, Kogi, and Nassarawa States and the FCT. Each selected family will receive a cash amount to enable them to pay for school, purchase food and other necessities, and become self-sufficient entrepreneurs.
“Since the inception of PEPFAR, the U.S. government has made a point of focusing on children who have been most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” said Mission Director Harvey. “The program we are launching today brings hope to 2,400 vulnerable families here in Edo State alone. We want this to be a model for how such programs can effectively and affordably be put in place, so that other states can follow suit.”
About USAID: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partners to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity. In its partnership with Nigeria, the United States strengthens social stability through social services, supports transparent and accountable governance, promotes a more market-led economy, and enhances its capacity as a responsible regional and trade partner.
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