Fav a young female drug user attended one of our community sexual and reproductive health activities for women who use drugs, it was clear she was in distress. Her eyes, heavy with sadness, told a story of depression and uncertainty. She was pregnant, but unsure of how far along she was, or even who the father could be.

In her words, “Na one time like that way I been high well well to forget my problem, I no even know sey person been don use me. Na until I see changes for my bodi na him I notice sey I don carry belle.”

Fav‘s reality was one of neglect, trauma, and vulnerability. She had not received any prenatal care and had no one to turn to. Thankfully, she found the courage to confide in one of our community mobilizers. That single act sparked a life-changing response.

With compassion and urgency, MIHRE team stepped in. After an initial mental health session with our psychologist, we quickly leveraged the ongoing support from Heartland Alliance LTD/GTE through the ViiV Healthcare Positive Action Project and Fav was taken to the nearest Primary Health Centre, where she began receiving the prenatal care and medications she so desperately needed.

But we didn’t stop there.

Recognizing the importance of economic empowerment in breaking cycles of drug dependency, we enrolled Fav in our Skills Acquisition Program. She eagerly learned how to make pastries for commercial sale, skills that not only restored her self-worth but offered her a real pathway to financial independence.

Today, Fav beams with gratitude. Her face tells a new story, one of hope, healing, and possibility.

She is one of many women whose lives are being transformed through the combined efforts of Milestone Initiative for Human Rights and Empowerment and our incredible partners at Heartland Alliance LTD/GTE through the ViiV Healthcare Positive Action Project.

Every woman who uses drugs deserves a second chance, and we are committed to making that a reality.

FAV’S JOURNEY TO HEALING AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING

Last Friday, MIHRE staff came together for an unforgettable team bonding experience within our office premises

The aim was to;
Foster collaboration and teamwork
Enhance communication and trust
Boost morale and motivation
Improve problem-solving and creativity
Support mental health and well-being

By bonding together, we’re not just having fun, we’re setting ourselves up for success as these activities will lead to:
Increased productivity
Job satisfaction
The overall success of our organization

At Milestone Initiative for Human Rights and Empowerment, we believe that strong teams = better work & happier minds

Let’s continue to celebrate the power of teamwork and its amazing benefits for our mental health and productivity.

TeamBonding MentalHealthMatters ProductivityBoost MilestoneInitiative TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork

Teams That Bond Together, Win Together

On June 25th and 26th, 2025, the Milestone Initiative for Human Rights and Empowerment (MIHRE), with support from Heartland Alliance-Nigeria through the ViiV Healthcare Positive Action-funded project, partnered with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Akwa Ibom State Command to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This year’s theme, “Drug Abuse is Dangerous: Break the Chains, Prevent, Treat, and Promote Recovery,” guided a series of impactful activities that emphasised community collaboration, prevention, and the urgent need for humane responses to drug-related issues.

Day One: Sensitisation Road Walk

The two-day event began on June 25th with a vibrant and well-attended sensitisation road walk that started from the NDLEA State Command Headquarters and proceeded to Ibom Plaza, then returned. Participants included representatives from security agencies, civil society organisations, media, youth groups, and concerned community members. The procession served as a public awareness campaign against drug abuse, as participants engaged the public with fliers, banners, placards, and anti-drug messaging, emphasising the dangers of substance use and the importance of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Day Two: Symposium and Stakeholder Engagement

On June 26th, a high-level symposium was held at the Ibom Hall in Uyo, bringing together stakeholders across government, health, law enforcement, civil society, and community-based organisations. The seminar served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and forward-thinking strategies for addressing drug abuse and supporting recovery.

In her remarks, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, who also serves as the Chairperson of the State Drug Control Committee, reaffirmed her commitment to youth protection and community wellness. She emphasised the urgent need to integrate prevention efforts into schools, families, and community structures. In recognition of her advocacy and leadership, the NDLEA decorated her as a “War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassador,” acknowledging her outstanding role in championing drug control and rehabilitation efforts across the state.

The NDLEA Commandant’s Address

In a compelling address, CN Obot Bassey, the State Commandant of NDLEA Akwa Ibom, applauded the collaborative efforts of civil society, development partners, and the state government in tackling the drug menace. He stressed that drug abuse poses a significant threat to national development, family stability, and public safety. Commandant Bassey called for sustained investment in drug demand reduction strategies, noting that while law enforcement is important, the real victory lies in community awareness, preventive education, and access to treatment services.

He also acknowledged the unique vulnerabilities of young people and women, urging stakeholders to tailor interventions that address social drivers such as poverty, trauma, and unemployment. His message underscored the importance of embracing empathy and a health-based approach when dealing with people who use drugs.

MIHRE’s Commitment to Change

MIHRE’s Executive Director also delivered a powerful message, reiterating the organisation’s dedication to harm reduction, gender-sensitive programming, and advocacy for the health and rights of women who use and inject drugs. She highlighted the need for community-driven models and policy reforms that prioritise people over punishment, care over criminalisation.

Call to Action

The event concluded with a collective call to action for all stakeholders, government, civil society, community leaders, and the private sector to strengthen partnerships, prioritise prevention, promote recovery, and break the cycles of addiction and stigma.

By coming together across sectors and voices, we are creating a future where people are informed, supported, and empowered to live free from the grip of drug abuse.

#DrugFreeCommunity #NDLEAAKS #MIHRE #BreakTheCycle #WADA #HeartlandAlliance #viivhealthcare #PreventionWorks #HarmReduction

 

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025

In May, the technical staff of the Milestone Initiative for Human Rights and Empowerment (MIHRE) proudly participated in a Project Review and Capacity Building Meeting organised by Heartland Alliance LTD/GTE (HALG) under the VIIV Healthcare Positive Action-funded project.

The session focused on reviewing project progress and impact, addressing challenges, and shaping a clear path toward more effective, inclusive, and sustainable programming.

Key Highlights:
Organisational Sustainability & Resource Management, Strategies for long-term growth, rooted in a clear vision, strong structures, and diversified funding.
Social Work & Mental Health, Prioritising staff well-being and the crucial role of social workers in psychosocial support, aligned with WHO’s MHGAP framework.
HALG’s human rights-centred capacity-building model is helping organisations like MIHRE grow beyond project implementation, strengthening institutional resilience and driving sustainable community impact.
#CapacityBuilding #MIHRE #HeartlandAlliance #VIIV healthcare PositiveAction #OrganizationalDevelopment #MentalHealthMatters #SustainableImpact #CBOStrengthening #CommunityResilience

 

Building Stronger Foundations for Impact!

Milestone Initiative for Human Rights and Empowerment (MIHRE) celebrated World Creativity and Innovation Day by organizing a painting session for Women Who Use and Inject Drugs (WWUID).

 

It started out with a brief talk by the psychologist , who highlighted the significance of creativity and innovation in today’s rapidly evolving world.

The painting session gave WWUIDs a platform to express themselves creatively, even for those who may not consider themselves creative. Each artwork focused on the theme of Gender-Based Violence, every piece symbolized the act of speaking out to protect and uphold their rights especially as female drug users.

 

It was a fun session as WWUIDs painted together, shared stories and laughter, engage in meaningful conversations, build connections, and inspired new ideas.

 

Engaging in art forms like painting, drawing, sculpting, dancing, writing, or photography can be therapeutic. Art helps express emotions, reduces stress, and promotes mental well-being.

By creating, you can process feelings, gain insight, and find peace, improving your mental health and overall sense of well-being.

 

Art heals!

 

#WorldCreativityAndInnovativeDay #StepOutAndInnovate #HeartlandAlliance #ViivHealthcare

Celebrating World Creativity and Innovation Day 2025

World Creativity and Innovation Day is a global event that inspires individuals to think creatively and explore their imaginations to create ideas. This year’s theme, “Step Out and Innovate,” encourages us to embrace creativity and drive progress.

At Milestone Initiative for Human Rights and Empowerment (MIHRE), we encourage female drug users to explore their creativity.

For Women Who Use and Inject Drugs (WWUID), creative arts can be therapeutic, by giving them the opportunity to express their emotions and experiences through art, their mental well being is improved as well as their self expression and awareness.

No matter who you are or what you do, we implore you to start your creative journey today!

Explore your imagination, unleash your creativity, and turn your ideas into reality.

Step out and Innovate!

#WorldCreativityAndInnovativeDay #StepOutAndInnovate #HeartlandAlliance #ViivHealthcare

World Creativity and Innovation Day 2025.

World Tuberculosis Day 2025: Yes! We Can End TB.

March 24th marks World Tuberculosis Day, it is set aside to raise a global awareness about the devastating impact of tuberculosis (TB) and the need to end this disease through effective prevention and treatment. TB is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily affects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body.

The theme for this year is “We can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver” calls for global collaboration, strategic investment, high quality care, urgency and accountability in the fight against TB.

Our project which provides Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)/Harm reduction services to Women Who Use/Inject Drug (WWUID) recognizes the need to address TB as a co infection of HIV among drug users.

Women Who Use and Inject Drugs (WWUID) are vulnerable to TB due to;

  • Smoking
  • High Alcohol consumption
  • Poor living conditions
  • Malnutrition.

These lifestyles weaken their immune system and puts them at risk to contacting TB. And their fear of stigma and discrimination makes them unable to access healthcare services.

MIHRE bridges this gap by referring WWUID for free access to TB test so as to detect TB early enough and have it treated.

As we commemorate World Tuberculosis Day 2025, we call for more collaboration and commitment globally to ending TB, particularly for vulnerable populations like WWUID.

#WeCanEndTB #WorldTuberculosisDay #HeartlandAlliance #ViiVHealthcare

World TB Day 2025: Yes! We Can End TB.

 

Every March 8, the world comes together to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). A day to recognize the achievements, strength, and resilience of women everywhere. This year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” speaks directly to the heart of our work at Milestone Initiative for Human Rights and Empowerment (MIHRE).

We see this strength daily in the women we work with Women Who Use and Inject Drugs (WWUID) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, and Africa. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. They are survivors. Despite facing stigma, discrimination, and violence, they continue to rise, pushing forward with determination and courage.

These women are more than their struggles, they are leaders of their own lives and powerful agents of change. When given the opportunity, they reclaim their dignity, make informed choices, and build better futures for themselves and their communities. Their stories inspire us to keep advocating for a world where every woman and girl, regardless of her circumstances has the right to safety, health, and empowerment.

As a society, we must recognize and support the unseen resilience of these women. We must ensure that their voices are heard, their rights are protected, and their futures are filled with opportunities not obstacles. Every woman matters. Every girl deserves to thrive.

This IWD, lets commit to accelerating action so that ALL women and girls can live free from fear, full of hope, and with the power to shape their own lives.

 

#IWD2025 #AccelerateAction #HeartlandAlliance #ViiVHealthcare

Rights, Equality, & Empowerment for All Women and Girls

Today, we celebrate three years of resilience, impact, and unwavering dedication to advancing the rights and health of Women Who Use and Inject Drugs (WWUID). From humble beginnings to an established force for change, we are deeply grateful for how far we’ve come.

Over the past two years, through the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Harm Reduction Empowerment for WWUID project made possible by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action through Heartland Alliance Limited by Guarantee (HALG), we have achieved remarkable milestones in Akwa Ibom State.

Through our interventions, MIHRE has provided life-changing services to WWUID, including:

• Sexual and Reproductive Health & Harm Reduction support

• HIV Testing Services (HTS), PrEP, PEP, STI treatment

• X-rays, Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS)

• Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) commodities

• Legal aid, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), GBV response

• Family planning services through referrals to Primary Health Centres

Beyond direct service provision, we have fostered strategic collaborations with key stakeholders across Akwa Ibom State, strengthening program interventions and creating platforms for knowledge exchange and best practices.

Our passion for this work remains stronger than ever, and we look forward to expanding our impact and reaching more women in need. Cheers to more years of growth, empowerment, and transformative change!

 

#MIHRE@3  #ViiVHealthcare  #HeartlandAlliance

Celebrating 3 Years Impact on the Health of WWUID

World Health Day 2025: Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.

Bringing a new life into this world is always a moment of Joy but that wasn’t the case of a random female drug user who had just lost her baby during self-delivery with little strength in her. Looking at the lifeless child with tears in her eyes, she remembered her struggles to access quality healthcare during her pregnancy, the stigma and shame due to lack of social support, her inability to access prenatal care due to financial constraint, her only hope of happiness has just been lost, because of the intense pains and the loss of blood she had experience during the delivery she breath her last.

This is just one of the unseen challenges of vulnerable women during pregnancy and childbirth who have no access to quality healthcare services.

World Health Day 2025, with the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,” emphasizes the need to prioritize women’s long-term health and end preventable deaths.

Every day, thousands of women and babies die around the globe from preventable causes, simply because they lack access to quality healthcare.

Through the tailored support and interventions provided by the Sexual and reproductive health and harm reduction project for WWUID Funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action project through Heartland Alliance Ltd/Gte., we have overtime seen the vulnerability and complex realities faced by these women in remote communities where they are mostly found, which has resulted to unplanned pregnancies resulting from rape, domestic violence, selling sex in exchange for drugs and intoxication which in turn leads to high risk of maternal and newborn health complications among WWUID in our communities.

We advocate for swift action to be taken regarding limited health care services to women and newborns regardless of their lifestyle or location. We must support healthcare workers, invest in community-based care, and promote healthy lifestyles.

Together, we can make a difference and ensure healthy beginnings and hopeful futures for all.

#HeartlandAlliance  #ViivHealthcare

World Health Day 2025: Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.