The goals of the program are : to increase access to quality, specialized and affordable Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV/AIDS care, support services and delivery systems; and to strengthen instituitional capacity to manage specialized SRH and HIV/AIDS programs and technical services.
Our strategic objectives include:
- Conducting research on specific SRH and HIV/AIDS issues
- To increase access to SRH and HIV/AIDS research findings and information
- To develop and update a research agenda in SRH and HIV/AIDS
- To provide a wide-range of accessible, affordable and quality SRH services
- To promote the system for referral to and from WHARC and
- To carryout evidence-informed advocacy and research on the social behaviours related to HIV transmission.
HIV/AIDS Projects Completed
With funding from the Macarthur, Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, WHARC has implemented successful STDs and HIV/AIDS prevention programs among youths in Edo state, Nigeria. One of these projects has focused exclusively on out-of-schol adolescents, using an integrated approach to provide continuing sexuality education and reproductive health services to out-of-school youths.
In 2002 WHARC obtained funding from the Global Health Council to increase the capacity of community nurses / midwives in Edo State to provide HIV/AIDS counseling and home-based care for PLWHAs. These efforts have increased the effectiveness of the health community responses to HIV/AIDS prevention and care in Edo State. WHARC provides technical assistance to the Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS and was involved in their launch of KEEP HOPE ALIVE ORGANIZATION - an umbrella organization for PLWHAs in Edo State. Indeed, the Secretary of this organization is an associate of WHARC. WHARC has previously coordinated the Edo State Chapter of the Civil Society for the HIV/AIDS (CiSHAN). Till date, WHARC continues to provide HIV/AIDS education to in-school adolescents through it's Peer Education program for adolescents.
Future Projects
In order to ensure continuity in our efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, and increase support for Persons living with HIV (PLWHA), plans have been set in place to establish the WHARC Youth Friendly Center and a support group for PLWHA in the local community. In the coming year, the Center will facilitate the assesment of the level of implementation of the adolescent sexuality education curriculum in secondary schools. This will guide us in advocating for proper implemetation of sexuality education curriculum in schools. The Center currently seeks funding for the HIV/AIDS unit, in order to implement the projects.