2023 ANNUAL REPORT OF AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION
AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION
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EMAIL: afrihealthoptonet2@gmail.com Ph: +234 (0) 8034725905 Website: http//www.afrihealthcsos.org |
Plot 520, FHA Estate, Lugbe, Airport Rd; P.O. Box 8880, Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria |
AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION
2023 ANNUAL REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) is a global civil society and non-state actors Network/Think-tank on Health, Climate Actions, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Development. It has about 2,700 (Two Thousand, Seven Hundred) member organizations from 119 countries; and a Google Group of about 42,000 (Fourty-two Thousand) members, AHOA has become a third-sector global player, partner, project/programme developer, implementer, monitor, and reporter on sustainable development interventions in Health, Energy/Environment/Climate Actions, Nutrition/Agriculture/Food Security, and Gender/Human Rights and Good Governance, and the measures needed to achieve and safeguard them. Incorporated in 2003, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) - CSOs Network and Think-tank for Health and Development is committed to exploring the nexus between Health (UHC, PHC, HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, NTDs, NCDs, Vaccines, Vitamins, & COVID-19, including the promotion of vaccines uptake and elimination of vaccine hesitancy); Biodiversity, Environment, Ecosystems, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Climate Change; Nutrition and Food Security; Gender, Democracy, Good Governance, and Human Rights.
Over the years, the Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) had implemented the following Vaccine activities:
1. AHOA Partners Review meeting on the Re-emergence of monkeypox virus outbreak in Nigeria, Sep 2023
2. Also in 2023, AHOA became the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for Nigeria, on the SARS-coV2 variants Evaluation in pRegnancy and peDIatrics cohorts (VERDI) Study Project; under the auspices of the Institute for Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN)
3. AHOA Organized a conference on ‘Mpox Vaccination in Pregnancy: Perspectives of Healthcare Workers and Affected Persons in Nigeria’; November 2023
4. On 17th September 2024, AHOA organized the International Symposium on Reversing the Mpox5(Monkey Pox) Surge in Affected Communities; to address the resurgence of Mpox in mid-2024. The report of the symposium is available through the following link <https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2024/10/summary-report-of-international.html>
5. Organized the International Symposium on Vaccine Hesitancy, 2 April 2021; with the theme: Vaccine Hesitancy in The Context of COVID-19 And Other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases - Myths and Realities;
6. Participated in the Gavi Talks with Civil Society on Malaria Vaccine Introductions – September 3, 2024
7. Co-authored an abstract on ‘Addressing Mpox in Bayelsa State, Nigeria: Engaging Community Health Workers to Drive the Response’ for the CUGH Conference 2024;
8. AHOA was signatory to the ‘Letter to leaders of member states and governments of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), supporting the development of developing new medicines, vaccines and diagnostics to find, treat and prevent NTDs, among others requests; New York, September 5, 2018 <https://unitingtocombatntds.org/news/francophonie-open-letter/>
9. AHOA was signatory to the ‘Civil Society Declaration for Equitable Access to Immunization in Africa 2016 <http://immunizationinafrica2016.org/civilsocietydeclaration>
10. signatory to the NGO Statement of Support for global action on vaccination
https://www.defeatdd.org/take-action/global-action-plan/ngo-statement-support
Apr 05, 2013
11. signatory to the Statement of Support for the Integrated Global Vaccine Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea <http://www.defeatdd.org/take-action/global-action-plan/ngo-statement-support>
The winner of the SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing Champion Award in 2023, AHOA is community-focused civil society organizations(CSOs) international Movement/Network Coalition and Think-tank deeply engaged in promoting evidence-based credible actions and support for policies, practices, programmes, and interventions that enhance productivity, accountability, transparency, and civil society’s coordination/contributions in gender justice, financial inclusion, equitable access to health, democracy, good governance, and human rights; in Health - including Traditional Complimentary Integrative Health (TCIH)/Ayurvedic Medicine; Community Welfare/Social Safety nets, Sustainable Development/ Development Work, and in educational, literary, scientific, social, climate change, energy, biodiversity, nutritional/agricultural, cultural, sporting, governance, human rights, and charitable intervention(s)/purpose(s). As a Networking Organization, AHOA promotes sustainable citizen participation (SCP) to address, prevent and mitigate disasters, wars, escalation of weapons, global warming, famine, water shortage, floods, epidemics/pandemics, diseases, poverty, capacity challenges, food security, radioactive contamination, electromagnetic field (EMF) risks to life, cyber risks, economics, governance, gender-based violence (GBV), violence against women and girls (VAWG), environmental and social impact assessments, risks management, and cross-generational resource challenges.
The Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA)’s position as a global CSO network and Think-tank has continued to give thousands of CSOs, non-profits, and non-state actors, the needed platform to voice, network, capacitate and flourish. The AHOA Movement and its members/partners are committed and involved in the promotion of Development Work, Sustainable Development including the SDGs, and Health - as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. AHOA uses partnership/collaboration, advocacy, communication, research/evidence-generation, capacity development, outreaches, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E) as strategies; to benefit rural and poor urban dwellers, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged populations of women, children, youth, adolescents, people with disability, orphans, widows, victims of disasters, homeless/destitute, and elderly.
Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) is a non-state actors global Network representing, working with, and reaching target populations in 117 (One Hundred and Seventeen) countries across all the continents. AHOA is therefore well-positioned and available to Governments, Development Partners, Agencies, Institutions, Professional Bodies and Organizations in reaching (and defining/finetuning) their objectives, advancing their work and achieving their target/mandates. AHOA promotes sustainable citizen participation (SCP) to address, prevent and mitigate human and development challenges including disasters, wars, escalation of weapons, global warming, famine, water shortage, floods, epidemics/pandemics, diseases, poverty, capacity challenges, housing, transport, food security, radioactive contamination, electromagnetic field (EMF) risks to life, cyber risks, economics, governance, gender-based violence (GBV), violence against women and girls (VAWG), and cross-generational resource challenges.
Afrihealth Optonet Association's (AHOA)’s position as a global CSO network and Think-tank has continued to give thousands of CSOs, non-profits, and non-state actors, the needed platform to voice, network, capacitate and flourish. The AHOA Movement and its members/partners are committed and involved in the promotion of Development Work, Sustainable Development including the SDGs, and Health - as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. AHOA uses partnership/collaboration, advocacy, communication, research/evidence-generation, capacity development, outreaches, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E) as strategies; to benefit rural and poor urban dwellers, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged populations of women, children, youth, adolescents, people with disability, orphans, widows, victims of disasters, homeless/destitute, and elderly.
Incorporated in 2003, the Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) - winner of the SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing Champion Award is community-focused civil society organizations(CSOs) international Movement/Network Coalition and Think-tank deeply engaged in promoting evidence-based credible actions and support for policies, practices, programmes, and interventions that enhance productivity, accountability, transparency, and civil society’s coordination/contributions in gender justice, financial inclusion, equitable access to health, democracy, good governance, and human rights. The AHOA Network explores the nexus between Health – UHC, PHC, HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, NTDs, NCDs, Vaccines, and COVID-19; Energy and Environment - biodiversity, environment, ecosystems, renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation, and climate change; Nutrition/micronutrients and Food Security; Gender, Democracy, Good Governance, and Human Rights. As a Networking Organization, AHOA promotes sustainable citizen participation (SCP) to address, prevent and mitigate disasters, wars, escalation of weapons, global warming, famine, water shortage, floods, epidemics/pandemics, diseases, poverty, capacity challenges, food security, radioactive contamination, electromagnetic field (EMF) risks to life, cyber risks, economics, governance, gender-based violence (GBV), violence against women and girls (VAWG), environmental and social impact assessments, risks management, and cross-generational resource challenges.
To promote equity in participation, AHOA does not demand any compulsory financial/material commitment from organizations/entities to become members. Intending members are only required to complete a membership/partnership form, and an institutional capacity needs assessment form. Members/Partners do not pay registration/membership fees, dues or levies. To sustain the organization, members/partners and stakeholders willingly make voluntary donations, and serve/participate voluntarily in the activities of the Network, from time to time. AHOA is also entitled to receive/benefit from grants, endowments, waivers, subventions, awards, bursaries, contributions, donations, etc. from within and outside the Network. AHOA partners with the Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN). AHOA has members/local Chapters in Nigeria’s 36 States and Federal Capital Abuja, National Chapters in some countries, sub-regional Chapters in North Africa, West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa; and in America, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, and Oceania regions. AHOA is in special consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC; and an Accredited Observer status at the UNEP/United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
The Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) CSOs Movement/Network Coalition and Think-tank works to explore the nexus between and within the following sectors:
1. Health - including UHC, PHC, Reproductive Health, Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNBCH), Primary Health Care (PHC), HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria, Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs), Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Infectious and Communicable diseases, Vaccines/Immunization and COVID-19; including the promotion of vaccines uptake and elimination of vaccine hesitancy;
2. Energy and Environment – including biodiversity, environment, ecosystems, renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation and climate change (BEEREEECCC);
3. Nutrition/micronutrients and Food Security;
4. Gender, Democracy, Good Governance, Peace, Human Security, and Human Rights; and
5. Sustainable Development across regions, populations, communities, and generations
AHOA’s activities/interventions are for the benefit of rural and poor urban dwellers, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged populations of women, children, infants, youth, adolescents, persons with disabilities, persons in conflict-affected areas, the poor, elderly, rural, disadvantaged and vulnerable persons, orphans and the elderly. AHOA has a current global membership/partnership of 2,424 (Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-four) organizations in 107 (One Hundred and Seven) countries, and promotes the ‘One Health’ paradigm where Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. AHOA uses partnership/collaboration, advocacy, research/evidence generation, capacity development, outreaches, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E) as strategies.
AHOA’s mandates include:
1. Building an inclusive and broad movement for Health and Sustainable Development;
2. Creating avenues to influence the design and implementation of policies, practices, programmes, and interventions;
3. Promoting coordination, information exchange, and harmonization among civil society and stakeholder groups across the world; and
4. Promoting citizen involvement, leadership, and accountability mechanisms in the implementation of the respective interventions.
AHOA is in Consultative Status at UN ECOSOC, an accredited Observer status at the UNEP/UNEA, approved by the African Development Bank (AfDB); while its application to the UNFCCC is awaiting approval/admission.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Conference 2023 on ‘The most critical challenges in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)’, during which the participants commented as follow:
1. Fragmented implementation of efforts targeted at GBV and VAWG must be stopped through more integrated actions/interventions;
2. There is need for strong information system (location, forms, hot spots); channeling resources to where they are most needed;
3. Efforts should be accelerated to help organizations collect and report data qualitatively;
4. There is very limited interconnectedness among stakeholders;
5. Let's put our efforts together as our common enemy is GBV;
6. Strengthening Collaborations and Interconnectedness among Stakeholders in the efforts to eliminate GBV and VAWG in Africa by 2030;
2023 World Malaria Day Conference organized by Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) on 25th of April 2023
The AHOA marked the 2023 World Malaria Day by organizing a conference with the global theme of "Time to Deliver Zero Malaria - Invest, Innovate, Implement". AHOA adopted the slogan Don’t Leave the Civil Society and Community Behind. Three days earlier on 22nd April 2023, AHOA featured on national TV to present a public interest live on Channels Television (DSTv channel 420) and spoke on the 2023 World Malaria Day, the Malaria vaccine and related issues around “Don’t Leave the Civil Society and Community Behind”
International Capacity Building and Evidence Generation Seminars, Workshops and Conferences
In 2023, AHOA organized conference, seminars and workshops including the following:
1. Human Security, Human Capital Development and Africa’s Agenda 2060
2. Issues that Matter to the Development of Africa and the Welfare of her Citizens
3. Life beyond Fifty: Helping Older Citizens to Contribute to Development
4. Civil Society Consultations to Review the 2023 High Level Political Forum (HL{PF)
5. International Conference on Development
6. Civil Society Int'l Workshops on an Optional Protocol to CEDAW
REPRESENTATION OF PARTNERS
Every Woman Treaty and International Mentorship Programme
On behalf of Every Woman Treaty, AHOA provided one-year mentorship for two young women from Kenya and Malaysia in 2023. During the same perios, AHOA also recruited two hundred persons from forty countries to embrace the EWT, as well as reached out to high-ranking Nigerian government officials and the global media with the message of Equality and full and equal involvement of women and girls in human affairs at all levels and in all societies.
Engagement of Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) by the Institute for Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) as the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for the VERDI Study, Nigeria.
In August 2023, the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria; formally informed Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) of being selected to serve as the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for the ‘SARS-coV2 Variants Evaluation in Pregnancy and Paediatrics Cohort (VERDI)’ Study, funded by the European Union. VERDI focuses on SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox (Mpox), especially in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children.
A key objective on this project is to conduct qualitative interviews in communities where Mpox outbreaks have occurred among these vulnerable populations, and we are looking to engage a community-based organization with a nationwide reach to achieve this purpose. The IHVN further explained that “Having reviewed Afrihealth’s contributions and impact, even in hard-to-reach communities across Nigeria, we believe your organization fits the criteria we require in the community advisory board for this project. We strongly believe that a partnership on this project will be mutually beneficial.”
COLLABORATIONS
International Federation on Ageing (IFA)
In 2023, AHOA collaborated with the IFA as a co-organizer of the Global Conference on Ageing. AHOA also delivered a statement to the Conference.
World Health Organization (WHO)
AHOA formally joined the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative and Office in Nigeria, and the FMOH, to commemorate the 75th Anniversay of the WHO in 2023; and delivered a goodwill message at the event.
Presidency Nigeria
1. Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on the Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs)
In 2023, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) continued to collaborate with the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President (OSSAP) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), under the leadership of Her Excellency Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefuliri, OFR. The SSAP delivered the keynote address at AHOA’s SDGs events. AHOA participated in the OSSAP-SDG’s ‘Actualizing the SDGs Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS)’ in 2023; and the ‘Integrated data Charter finalization Workshop’ in June 2023.
2. Office of the Special Adviser (SA) to the President on Health
AHOA is also in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser (SA) to the President on Health, Hon. Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim. AHOA was graciously honoured by the Nigerian Presidency when the SA personally inaugurated AHOA International Advisory Board (IAB) and International Technical Advisory Panel (ITAP) in 2023, and delivered the inauguration speech.
Coalition of Health Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH).
In 2023, the FMOH invited AHOA as a leading Civil Society Network on Health, to join the ‘Coalition of Health NGOs in Nigeria’. The AHOA has continued to partner with the FMOH in Nigeria as a duly recognized national network of Health NGOs. AHOA also participated in the ‘Health CSOs Review Workshop’ organized by the FMOH. AHOA was invited by the Honourable Minister to present the Health NGOs goodwill message on behalf of all the health NGOs in Nigeria, during the 2023 World Health Day celebrations in Abuja, Nigeria.
National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP)
AHOA works with the NMEP on some Malaria control interventions in Nigeria. It has been a member of the National World Malaria Day Committee in 2023, and the CEO of AHOA previously chaired the Committee in 2019. AHOA is also a member of the Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Committee of the NMEP, as well as a member of the National Malaria Technical Working Group of the FMOH.
United Nations System including ECOSOC, and Multilateral Agencies
Afrihealth Optonet Association was involved in and organized the following activities along with the United Nations and the Economic and Social Council:
a. Participation in the activities leading to the UNFCCC 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai
b. 2023 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York
c. Annual Meetings with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
d. ECOSOC Partners Forum
MEDIA LINKS TO SOME OF AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION’S ACTIVITIES IN 2023:
AfriHealth Optonet Association Condemns Barbaric Assault on Pharm. Kufre Ebong; December 18, 2023 18 0
<https://themomentforwomen.com/2023/12/18/afrihealth-optonet-association-condemns-barbaric-assault-on-pharm-kufre-ebong/>
CEDAW: 75% of Indigenous Women and Girls Still Victims of Violence Against Women and Girls Globally - AFRIHEALTH
<https://druzodinmadirieje.blogspot.com/2023/11/cedaw-75-of-indigenous-women-and-girls.html>
ENDING THE CRISIS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH DISABILITIES AROUND THE WORLD - AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION (AHOA)
<https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2023/11/ending-crisis-of-violence-against-women.html>
Ending the Global Menace of Violence Against Women and Girls: Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) Propagates an Optional Protocol to Strengthen CEDAW.
<https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2023/11/ending-global-menace-of-violence.html>
Ending Violence Against Women & Girls: Adirieje Urges the United Nations on Importance of An Optional Protocol To CEDAW.
<https://www.deltauhuru.com/2023/11/05/ending-violence-against-women-girls-adirieje-urges-the-united-nations-on-importance-of-an-optional-protocol-to-cedaw>
CEDAW: 75% of Indigenous Women & Girls, Still Suffer Violence Globally – AFRIHEALTH
<http://news-annex-online.com/2023/11/06/cedaw-75-of-indigenous-women-girls-still-suffer-violence-globally-afrihealth/>
Ending the Global Menace of Violence Against Women & Girls: AHOA CEO, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje Names Advantages of New Optional Protocol to Strengthen CEDAW.
<https://www.victorbieni.com/index.php/2023/11/05/ending-the-global-menace-of-violence-against-women-girls-ahoa-ceo-dr-uzodinma-adirieje-names-advantages-of-new-optional-protocol-to-strengthen-cedaw>
Ending Violence Against Women & Girls: Adirieje Urges The United Nations On Importance of An Optional Protocol To CEDAW; November 5, 2023 Victor Bieni
<https://www.deltauhuru.com/2023/11/05/ending-violence-against-women-girls-adirieje-urges-the-united-nations-on-importance-of-an-optional-protocol-to-cedaw/>
Universal Health Coverage Day Event 2023 - Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) and Dr Uzo Adirieje Foundation (DUZAFOUND)
https://universalhealthcoverageday.org/organizer/afrihealth-optonet-association-ahoa-and-dr-uzo-adirieje-foundation-duzafound-3/
73% Of Women Currently Exposed To Online Gender-Based Violence – AFRIHEALTH
https://independent.ng/73-of-women-currently-exposed-to-online-gender-based-violence-afrihealth/
https://news-annex-online.com/2023/11/06/cedaw-75-of-indigenous-women-girls-still-suffer-violence-globally-afrihealth/
Adirieje Propagates ‘Six Star General’ competencies Of Effective Leadership For Non-profit Organizations
https://www.deltauhuru.com/2023/07/09/adirieje-propagates-the-6-star-general-strategies-of-effective-leadership-for-non-profit-organizations/
AFRIHEALTH Emerges SDG 3 Champion of the Year, as Dr. Adirieje gets a Lifetime Achievement Award_Victor Bieni
https://news-annex-online.com/2023/06/23/afrihealth-emerges-sdg-3-champion-of-the-year-as-dr-adirieje-gets-a-lifetime-achievement-award_victor-bieni/
https://www.deltauhuru.com/2023/06/23/afrihealth-ahoa-a-champion-in-un-sdgs-3-domestication-csr-reporters-a-reputable-global-media-outfit-csr-reporters-set-to-honor-a-development-reproductive-health-advocate-world-class/
Abuja Agog as CSR REPORTERS Celebrates Nonprofit Champions Across Nigeria, csrreporters July 9, 2023 (Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje was Guest Speaker)
https://csrreporters.com/abuja-agog-as-csr-reporters-celebrates-nonprofit-champions-across-nigeria/
Benefits of becoming a member/partner of Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) - CSOs Global Movement and Think-tank
https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2023/06/benefits-of-becoming-memberpartner-of.html
Participants to the 2023 World Bank Spring Meetings
https://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/meetings/external/springmeeting/SM23%20Participant%20List.pdf
AWARD/RECOGNITION
AHOA received the ‘SDG-3: Good Health and Wellbeing Champion of the Year (2023)’ Award’ from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reporters
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