It has again been stressed that providing right data will aid individuals and institutions take good and informed decisions.
The Director General of Abia State Agency For the Control of HIV/AIDS (SACA) Dr.(Mrs) Uloaku Emma Ukaegbu, made the call in Umuahia, during the 5 day Residential Capacity Building on Data Collection Processes organized by NEPWHAN-CLM to State Networks, Community Based Organizations, Ministries, Agencies and Departments in the state.
The SACA DG, urged the participants to take the institutional capacity building programme serious, because without solid data one is bound to make mistakes and reach incorrect conclusions.
In his lectures, Abia State Program Officer NEPWHAN CLM/GHR PROJECT, Chief Whyte Ikocha, said that the main objective of the programme is to “build the capacity of the State Focal Persons and Data Collectors to collect quantitative and qualitative data in their areas of jurisdiction.
He seamlessly shown the participants the type of data to collect, understand what to collect, ” how to fill the data collection tools as well as know different sources of data collections”
Monitoring and Evaluation paper was equally delivered.
He equally led the participants to understand primary and secondary sources of data. For example, an event one witnessed or the fellow is passing through could pass as primary source, while secondary sources is taken from already existing data in the field.
Chief Ikocha, reiterated that the training was put together to strengthen the capacity of participants for a better implementation of CLM initiative in the years to come as well as introduce intervention model of the community led monitoring initiative.
Presenting his papers, the IT and Communication Officer, NEPWHAN, Bashir Ibnideen delivered exciting lectures on Gender and Human Rights issues. He also lectured on HIV Anti Stigma and Discrimination Act 2014 and Patients Bill of Right, among several others.
He said that any Gender Based Violence and Human Rights abuse/ Violence reported and consent obtained, would never be swept away under carpet.
The State Coordinator, Mr Michael Oze Ogbonnaya, welcomed all and sundry, adding that the essence of the capacity building is to further promote the health care needs and welfare of people living with HIV and key population.
In his goodwill message, the Area Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Umuahia Zone, Zachary Nwaogbe, highlighted the great need for everyone to operate within the ambit of the law, stressing that if one is a member of key population, does not license the fellow to live above the law of the land.
On his part, Comrade John Emejor, pledged that the media industry would not rest or relax until all forms of discrimination and stigma is eliminated in all frontiers of the polity, particularly in health care sector.
