Health programmes through campaigns against Human Immune Virus (HIV), Human Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Malaria are one of the pioneering activities of SWAYA even before its official incorporation in 2009. We started campaigns against HIV/AIDS in 2004 through visitation to secondary schools in Rivers State to sensitise students about the scourge. The campaigns continued with the sensitisations extended to churches, motorcycle riders, women and youth groups in various communities in Khana and Gokana local government areas of Rivers State. Though funding by the World Bank in its “HAF1 Project” to the Rivers State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) and which we were sponsored as “Ogoni Female Development Organisation” (as we were then known), we organized campaign rallies, seminars, train-the-trainers’ trainings, sensitizations, community dialogue, one-on-one interpersonal communication (IPC) of HIV/AIDS information/condom sharing in communities between 2008 and 2010.
Since 2010 till date, SWAYA has continued carrying out annual medical outreach programme in partnership with some churches in Rivers State such as Foundation Faith Church in their “Mercy Day” programme; Just Jesus Assembly in their “One-Hope Annual Medical Outreach”. In these programmes, we undertake free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling for both youths and adults present and refer positive cases to facilities. We also carry out test on random blood sugar and provide home based care for those found living with the HIV to ensure that they take medication, provide care, supports, counseling, etc.