On September 11, 2025, MIHRE joined other key stakeholders in Uyo for the AKSACA 2025 CBO Meeting, which was an inspiring step forward in strengthening the HIV and GBV response in Akwa Ibom state.
The gathering highlighted the power of renewed collaboration among community-based organizations and partners, with sustainability, innovation, and passion identified as the driving forces for lasting change.
CBOs received capacity-building sessions on community engagement strategies and grant proposal writing, equipping them with practical skills to enhance interventions and mobilize resources.
The discussions also shed light on critical gaps in HIV sensitization and GBV response, underlining the urgent need for stronger awareness campaigns, robust data systems, effective anti-stigma law advocacy, and improved service coordination.
A highlight of the meeting was the recognition and presentation of certificates to validated CBOs as an affirmation of accountability that ushers in a new era of trust and motivation.
More importantly, the gathering reinforced a pivotal shift from reliance on donor support to a future defined by passion, innovation, and local accountability.
Together, we are shaping a society where health rights, dignity, and justice are not just aspirations but everyday realities.
