The challenge 

 Nigeria has the second-largest HIV epidemic in the world. According to UNAIDS and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS 2019, 1.9 million people are living with HIV in Nigeria, despite achieving a 13% reduction in new infections between 2010 and 2019.

Nigeria accounts for around half of all new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa every year. Unprotected heterosexual sex accounts for 80% of new HIV infections, and a majority of the remaining HIV infections occurring among sex workers.

According to UNAIDS, at least 45,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in Nigeria in 2019. 

The response: The Access Bank End HIV Programme 

The Access Bank End HIV Programme is an initiative by Access bank as a swift and efficient response to curtailing the disease and ending HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. The Access Bank End HIV Programme helps increase HIV awareness, testing and counselling in line with the National Strategic Framework on AIDS. In the last five years, the programme has reached over 5 million Nigerians and conducted over one million HIV tests. The End HIV Programme targets special days and events that bring young people together as a touchpoint for impact. 

World AIDS Day

December 1st of every year marks international World AIDS Day to raise awareness of the HIV epidemic. Since its discovery, approximately 75 million people have been infected, and 32million of those have lost their lives to the disease. Every year, Access Bank, through the End HIV Programme, holds HIV awareness, counselling and testing programme in communities.

In 2015, Access Bank held a World AIDS Day event at the National Youth Service Camp in Lagos. The 2-day event educated corps members on HIV AIDS and the importance of knowing their HIV status while also providing access to free counselling and HIV testing. The event also included a screening of Inside Story, a feature film on HIV AIDS sponsored by Access Bank.

In 2017, Access bank, in partnership with HACEY Health Initiative and NiBUCAA, organised an HIV/AIDS counselling and testing event in Lagos and Kwara States.

In Lagos, the End HIV Programme held an HIV awareness, testing and counselling event in Surulere and Ajegunle. The event held at the Leisure Mall in Adeniran Ogunsanya in Surulere. The Adeniran Ogunsanya Leisure Mall is a popular hangout spot amongst young people in Lagos, hosting thousands of young people every day. The initiative focused on educating young people and couples at the mall on HIV/AIDS through Information, Education and Communication materials and fun activities to encourage them to learn about HIV and check their HIV status.

Ajegunle is one of Nigeria’s most popular slums, primarily made up of low-income earners especially motorbike riders, market women, local traders and out of school youth. Photo sessions with photo props were used to engage and attract visitors to the community market, where traders and visitors learned about HIV and were counselled and tested.    

Located in Ilorin, Kwara State in North Central Nigeria, the University of Ilorin is one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions with students from all parts of the country. At the University of Ilorin, young people learned about HIV/AIDS through IEC materials and one-on-one engagement. There was also a movie night with the movie “Inside Story”.

HIV Testing and Counselling at the Lagos Access Bank Marathon 

As part of its strategy, The End HIV Programme leverages significant events and large gatherings to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS and encourage HIV testing. One of such events is the Lagos City Access Marathon which attracts runners from all over the world.

In 2019, Access Bank, through the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA), Access Bank held an HIV and awareness campaign which reached over 1 million people with HIV preventive messages, tested and counselled 2620 Lagosians for free while giving out over 5000 condoms.

In 2020, Access Bank, through the End HIV Programme, sponsored Race to End HIV. Race to End HIV focused on enlightenment about HIV and offered free counselling on HIV/AIDS. 

World Day of Discrimination

Held every March 1st, the World Day of Discrimination raises awareness on ending all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and ending all forms of inequality. Over the years, Access Bank has leveraged the International Day of Discrimination to raise discussions amongst key decision-makers in the private sector and government on ending all forms of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.

Thought Leadership on Ending HIV /AIDS

Over the years, Access Bank has championed private sector involvement in the fight to end HIV and AIDS in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. As Africa’s most respected financial institution, Access Bank has promoted inclusive, non-discriminatory workplace policies for all, including people living with HIV and AIDS. Access Bank also leads efforts to get more private organisations involved in the fight to end HIV through its involvement in NiBUCCA. As a co-chair of NiBUCAA, Access Bank has led greater public-private partnership on achieving National targets on ending HIV in Nigeria.