FHI Receives Award from Nigerian-American Organization

SEPTEMBER 2004 — The Nigerian-American Public Professionals' Association (NAPPA) presented Family Health International (FHI) with the "Bridging the Gap" award at its Sept. 25 annual meeting and awards dinner in Chicago. The award recognizes FHI's many years of leadership in USAID-funded HIV/AIDS programming in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. The theme of NAPPA's meeting this year was "Each One Reach One: Extending Our Hearts to the Orphans of HIV/AIDS."

NAPPA first became aware of FHI's Nigeria programs when members learned of a household survey that IMPACT conducted in Nigeria several years ago. NAPPA members have since consulted with FHI to identify community-based organizations in Nigeria as potential recipients of funds in support of orphans and vulnerable children.

Moses Dombo, senior technical officer at FHI's Institute for HIV/AIDS, accepted the award for FHI. His acceptance speech emphasized FHI's commitment to reversing the course of the epidemic in Nigeria and elsewhere and encouraged NAPPA members to work on behalf of African children affected by AIDS.

"There are 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa that have lost one or both parents to AIDS, about the same number of people as the entire population of Illinois," said Mr. Dombo. "By 2010, this number will climb to more than 18 million. Tonight, when you reach out, it will not be just to one child. You will be reaching out to a family, a community, a nation and a continent at risk."

FHI began its AIDS program work in Nigeria in 1992, under the USAID-funded AIDSCAP Project. During the Implementing AIDS Prevention and Care (IMPACT) Project (1997 to 2004), also funded by USAID, FHI expanded its efforts in Nigeria, particularly in care and support services.

Members of NAPPA, which is based in Chicago, maintain strong links to their homeland, using public advocacy to raise awareness about AIDS and other important issues and raising money for charitable causes in Nigeria. In 2003, NAPPA made a grant of $10,000 to the Center for the Right to Health for an HIV counseling and testing initiative in Abuja, Nigeria.

Photo: FHI's Moses Dombo (left) accepts the "Bridging the Gap" Award from Vitto Ezeji-Okoye, president of NAPPA.