By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AHF, Nigeria says it would mark this year’s Day of the African Child with the revitalization of the AHF’s Boys2Men program.

The global organisation made this known in a statement Friday by its Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade ahead of the celebration with the theme “Be the Hero of Your Health.”

He stated that the renewed commitment aimed to boost visibility, awareness, and action for Adolescent Boys and Young Me, ABYM, in HIV, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, CSE, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, SRHR, programming across the continent.

The statement noted that while global and regional efforts had made substantial strides in reducing HIV incidence, ABYM in Africa continued to be left behind, “as they are notably underrepresented in HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Compared to young women, ABYM often start treatment late and have lower adherence, resulting in poorer health outcomes and higher transmission risk.”

The organisation noted that the Boys2Men program was launched in 2018 to address the gaps by promoting positive masculinity, early testing and treatment initiation, and stigma-free care for ABYM.

Quoting AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Dr. Penninah Iutung, the statement pointed out that “for too long, adolescent boys and young men have been the invisible demographic in the fight against HIV.

“Harmful gender norms teach them that seeking help is a sign of weakness, and stigma keeps them silent—even when their lives are at risk. Revitalizing our Boys2Men program is a bold step to change that narrative by empowering young men to take control of their health, access the care they need, and redefine what it means to be strong.”

Aborisade said “in Nigeria, AHF Nigeria will host a football match between the AHF boys and the soccer team of the Waru Community, Abuja. The Waru community in Abuja is home to one of AHF Nigeria’s facility, as the community also boasts of a Community Advocacy Club, AHF Africa Bureau flagship grassroots advocacy initiative.”

He said the football match which would take place on Saturday June 21 presents an opportunity to engage young boys on building positive masculinity and being resilient in the face of multiple environmental factors that young boys were faced with today.
Quoting the AHF Nigeria Country Program Director, CPD, Dr. Echey Ijezie, the statement pointed out that “the 2025 Day of the African Child commemoration is an intelligent response to the quiet but consistent yearnings of our boys who have long desired a structured interface to engage and positively deal with the peculiar challenges boys are faced with growing up in our terrain and I am happy we are able to revitalize the Boys2Men program for the benefit of adolescent boys and young men (ABYM), who will find the program’s offering exceptional to their growth.”

The statement noted that Since 2022, AHF had used the Day of the African Child to amplify calls for youth-friendly HIV services, CSE, SRHR, and stronger public policies addressing Gender-Based Violence, GBV, and teenage pregnancy.

“This year, in addition to on-the-ground interventions such as HIV testing, condom distribution, and other outreach efforts, the Day of the African Child events will reaffirm AHF’s commitment to ensure ABYM are not left behind.”

Observed annually on June 16, the Day of the African Child commemorates the 1976 Soweto Uprising – when students in South Africa marched in protest of poor-quality education and demanded teaching instruction in their languages – and were violently suppressed by police forces. Today, it serves as a platform to advocate for the rights, health, and development of children across the continent.