Message from Dr. Viola A Onwuliri, Principal Investigator
Sex Workers Education Progamme and Chairperson
Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAAN), Plateau State, Nigeria

October 2002

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria has continued to rise from an overall National prevalence of 1.8% in 1991/92 to 3.8% in 1993/94 to 4.5% in 1997, 5.4% in 1999 and 5.8% in 2001. In all these, the North Central Zone to which Plateau State belongs has the highest prevalence. Plateau State alone recorded a prevalence of 8.2% for the Jos area, while the age group of 20-29 years had the highest prevalence with results reaching between 10 - 39% in 1999. The situation among sex workers (SWs) is a major cause for concern with the sero-prevalence rate among sex workers in major urban areas in Nigeria rising from 30.5% to 34.2% between 1996 and 1998 and has continued to increase thereafter. The trend is alarming given the population of Nigeria at 120 million people.
Despite the determined efforts of the Government of Nigeria with support from many non-Government organizations donor agencies, multinational associations, including APIN, etc., to combat the scourge, the issues of youth unemployment, religious violence, and poverty continue to erode self-esteem, self-confidence, assertiveness, ability to clarify values and also negotiate for safer sex especially among SWs and other marginalized groups.
The thrust of our work with SWs in Plateau State has been to educate and empower this group who serve as the weakest link in the chain of HIV/AIDS control. APIN has graciously supported and strengthened our SWs programme by providing funds which have been used for:

• Advocacy and sensitization of Government officials, Hotel and Brothel proprietors and managers, as well as opinion leaders.
  
  
• Outreach to Hotels, Brothels, SWs, their clients etc.
  
  
• Training of SW Peer Health Educators and cultural mediators.
  
  
• Workshops, Seminars, talk shops, focal group discussions, and general training of SWs.
  
  
• Capacity building including counseling and training for field workers.
  
  
• Development, production and distribution of Information, Education and communication (IEC) materials.
  
  
• Purchase and distribution of condoms.
  
  
• Skills training for SWs in hairdressing, computer applications, catering, tailoring and fashion design.
  
  
• Rehabilitation of SWs.
  
  
• Networking with other NGOs, Government agencies, etc.
  
  
• Other project maintenance costs.