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Gede Foundation staff who presented posters and shared experiences at these events: - Claire Ebegbare
- Poster presentation on Gede Foundation’s initiative to care for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Nigeria at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand from July 11-16, 2004.
- Poster presentation on “Increasing Income-Generating Opportunities for People Living with HIV/AIDS Caregivers—Towards Effective Care and Support” at the 14th International Conference on AIDS and STI’s in Africa (ICASA), held in Nigeria from December 4-9, 2005.
- Grace Chiroko
- Experience sharing on Gede Foundation’s Nutrition Program for People Living with Hiv/AIDS at the Africa Forum 2006 on the Dual Epidemics of HIV/AIDS & Food Insecurity, held in Lusaka, Zambia from May 8-12, 2006
Three years ago…in 2002
- Gede Foundation was registered as a 501(c )3 nonprofit organization
in Washington, D.C., USA
- From founder’s basement in Maryland, the office was moved
to 1825 Eye St., NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C., 20006.
- By May, the Nigeria Office was established and occupied its
office at Plot 2813, No. 9, Zaire Crescent, Off Danube Street,
Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria by October.
- Mrs. Dayo Keshi, former Vice President of the Foundation, conducted
visits and established initial linkages with organizations working
for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
- In September, Gede Foundation started working with the Organization
for Positive Productivity (OPP) towards a nutrition program that
will benefit people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA’s). Members of
the Catholic Action Committee on AIDS, a support group of people
living with HIV, were the beneficiaries of said program. Through
the guidance of a dietician, members were taught to prepare some
nutritive foods, raw materials of which are available locally.
- A committee was set up to study and package a scholarship program
for OVCs.
In 2003…
- March 24: Gede Foundation organized a seminar
on “HIV/AIDS: The Role of the Mass Media in Creating Awareness
on the Issues of Stigma and Discrimination” for over 200 members
of the media. Held at the Nicon Hilton (Abuja), the event officially
introduced Gede Foundation to the community.
- March 26: Focus group meeting with representatives
of NGOs from different parts of Nigeria with the theme, “HIV/AIDS
in Nigeria: Situation Assessment and Challenges to Prevention
and Control.”
- June 5: Official launching of the Gede Foundation
website (www.gedefoundation.org).
- June 24: Official registration of Gede Foundation
in Nigeria.
- July 17: Submission of land application for
the Gede Foundation permanent site in Abuja.
- August 1: Inauguration of the Nutrition Committee,
after which the Nutrition/Food Support Program was established
with the Catholic Action Committee on AIDS (CACA).
- Early September: Selection of twenty one (21)
orphans for the OVC Scholarship Pilot Program in Abuja. Registration
in various schools followed.
- September 19: Gala Fundraising Dinner held
at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
- October: Establishment of the Gede AIDS &
Infectious Diseases Research Institute.
- November 29: Held a seminar to celebrate World
AIDS Day with the theme, “Tackling Stigma and Discrimination of
OVCs in Nigeria.”
In 2004…
- Opened GAIDRI consultancy services to patients in Abuja and
the surrounding areas.
- Enrollment of 21 beneficiaries of the OVC Scholarship Program
for the Second Term
- January 17: Assessment and intervention meeting
for psychosocial support with OVC beneficiaries and their guardians.
Involved free testing for HIV and malaria.
- January 26: Inauguration of the International
Advisory Board in Washington, DC, USA.
- February: Focus group discussion with stakeholders
on “Understanding the Behavioral Components and Community Perception
of HIV/AIDS vaccine trials in Nigeria.”
- March 18: The very first Governing Board Meeting
was held in Abuja
- Inauguration of the International Review Board
- April: A monitoring and evaluation exercise
for the first batch of OVC scholars was held at the Children’s
Zoo in Asokoro, Abuja. Apart from the zoo visit they participated
in an interactive discussion on health issues. Each child received
a gift package from a donation made by Gede Foundation volunteer,
Ms. Daphna Katz.
- May 25: Held an “Interactive Seminar on Development
and Clinical Trials of Vaccines & Drugs for HIV/AIDS and Other
Infectious Diseases.”
- July 11-16: Presentation of a poster at the
XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand by Claire
Ebegbare (Program Officer) on “Mitigating the Social Effects of
HIV/AIDS on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Abuja.”
- July 12: Gede Foundation donated the following:
- 1 color TV 14” sharp model
- 1 Multisystem VHS Video player sharp model A-10
- 1 Cloned Desktop Computer CPU and 14” Monitor
- 1 each of keyboard, 2D mouse,mini speakers
- 1 carton full of Nevirapine 200mg x 3000 tablets and,
- 30 bottles of Neviraphine syrups 50mg/5 in its effort to
kick off PMTCT activities at the Maitama District Hospital
- July 26-28: Conducted an Advocacy and Skills
Building Workshop for PMTCT Coordinators in the South South
in Calabar, Cross River State. The workshop was facilitated in
collaboration with The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the
POLICY Project.
- July 29-30: Advocacy visits were made to the
governors of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States to ensure government
commitment to enforce PMTCT in the aforementioned states.
- August 30- September 3: The PMTCT unit commenced
PMTCT/VCT Training for Health and Social Workers in Abuja, Nigeria.
- November: The PMTCT unit established PMTCT
sites in Maitama District Hospital and Gwangwalada Township Center
in Abuja, Nigeria.
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