…Deepen SRHR Awareness In Ebony
Date: 19 June, 2026
By Abraham Ovuoba
Abakakiki – The Daughters of Virtue and Empowerment Initiative (DOVENET) has called on journalists in Ebonyi State to strengthen public enlightenment campaigns on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and communicable diseases to improve healthcare access at the grassroots.
The appeal was made during a media engagement in Abakaliki organised in partnership with Jhpiego, the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), and other health stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of DOVENET’s Executive Director, Mrs. Ugo Nnachi, Mr. Peter Ewa described the media as a critical partner in driving awareness and increasing the utilisation of essential health services.
He said the intervention is part of the Global Fund-supported Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Including Communicable Diseases Project, targeting tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, maternal health, family planning, gender-based violence, cervical cancer awareness, and hepatitis B screening.
According to Nnachi, the programme is being implemented in Ebonyi, Ezza South and Afikpo South local government areas and has so far supported 15 primary healthcare centres, reached 1,937 adolescents and engaged over 33,000 community members through various awareness activities.
Mrs Ugo Nnachi identified poor public awareness, weak referral systems, inadequate community participation and illegal charges in some health facilities as major challenges affecting service delivery.
He urged communities to take ownership of their health centres and work closely with healthcare providers to improve access to quality services.
Also speaking, DOVENET Programme Manager, Mr. Igwe Magnus, appealed to journalists to sustain the dissemination of accurate health information, expressing confidence that stronger media collaboration would improve healthcare outcomes across Ebonyi State.
