Sweet Mother International
Cross River State
 SMI Team participates in World AIDS Day SAVE AFRICAN WOMEN PRE-CAMPAIGN DATE: November 8th, 2011 LOCATION: BOKI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
The SAVE Campaign in Cross River State commenced with sensitization
and awareness programs, particularly targeted at improving women's health and wellbeing. This initiative kick-starting at the Palace of his Highnesses, Otu Joseph
Katchang and Otu Joseph Edi, Clan heads of Kakwagom and Bue-Obi Clans in Boki
Local Government Area.  At this gathering, the SMI Cross River Coordinator, Florence Kekong addressed the audience, highlighting that most causes of deaths among women and children
can be prevented through improved health care delivery and up-skilling of traditional health practitioners.
 Team Leader Mrs. Mary George Edor, making a
point at a meeting with Clan Head of Katchuan Buda, His highness, Otu Benedict Kekong.  Also, women were mobilized to form SMI groups across various local government areas. This is in view of collating data and analyzing the health situation of women. This data will also assist the SMI team to initiate activities that best targets the core needs of women and to design projects that effectively improves their living conditions. PHASE TWO: DECEMBER 1, 2011 (WORLD AIDS DAY) AIDS is a condition resulting from damage done to the human immune system by HIV. It affects tens of millions of people around the world. The United Nations' (UN) World AIDS Day is held on December 1 each year to honor the victims of the AIDS pandemic and focus attention on the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS related conditions.  What do people do? World AIDS Day is the focal point of the World AIDS Campaign, which is active all year round. During the days and weeks leading up to World AIDS Day, there is often a lot of coverage of the condition in the media and fundraising for AIDS and HIV-related charities. In addition, health education campaigns aiming to reduce the transmission of HIV and discrimination of people living with HIV and AIDS are often launched on or around December 1. On World AIDS Day, many community, national and international leaders issue proclamations on supporting and treating people living with HIV and AIDS and stimulating research into the treatment of these conditions. Local communities may hold events to remember and honor members who have died of AIDS-related conditions or exhibitions around the subject. ROLE OF SWEET MOTHER INTERNATIONAL: SMI is championing the World AIDS Day programs by being active in the "Getting to Zero" campaign. This also aligns with the maternal and child health programmes of the Cross River
State government. By being involved in this program, SMI, Cross River, wishes to be fully integrated into the state government's health schemes. SMI has helped to mobilse women Living Positively and others from
the communities to participate in
this year’s world AIDS day event. The event was marked with road work and health education talks. Various groups including SMI participated in discussions on methodologies and progress on prevention and reduction of the spread HIV/AIDS including elimination of stigmatization of people living with the virus. SMI mobilised women from the
rural communities to join other women in the Calabar metropolitan area. This
exposure will further strengthen their
understanding about current issues affecting women generally and provide them an opportunity to network with women from diverse professions and status. 
The SAVE TEAM got condoms and T-shirts from the State Action Committee Against HIV/AIDS (SACA). Mothers displayed these condoms as it can be seen in this photograph.
Our SAVE TEAM members who
are living positively and are open about their status. They did a great job as
they went round with Cross River SMI Coordinator, telling others not to
stigmatize themselves. CONCLUSION: Cross River is hopeful that SMI would spread its activities across the State and become more effective before the end of the first quarter. We have mapped out strategies to usher in the New Year with some activities that would promote and encourage more support for the wellbeing of pregnant mothers and their children,. On the first of January, there would be a rally targeted at improving the nutritional status of women and children, to be rounded up with a thanksgiving mass on the second of January, 2012. By the Grace of God.
| VISION AND MISSION Report by: Florence Kekong Coordinator, SMI Cross-River State. INTRODUCTION: Sweet Mother International (SMI) is practically assisting women and children in impoverished communities of
Cross River State , Nigeria. SMI believes
that by collectively working hand-in-hand, most of the challenges faced by women and children in rural communities can be overcomed. Hence, the “SAVE” campaign compliments the effort of the government, local and international agencies in our collective effort to empower women through capacity building and skills development. SMI is also proactively advocating for more efforts and resources to be devoted towards eliminating pregnancy related deaths in Cross River State. Some of the challenges faced by rural communities include the difficult terrains , added with the horrible and nearly inaccessible road networks. For long, this has
left the people in heart-rending disadvantaged conditions. Most affected are women and children who are not only affected by infrastructural handicaps but also over-burdened by illiteracy,
ignorance and low economic status. In addition, ugly cultural practices contributes to rendering women vulnerable to contracting Sexually transmitted disease as they are almost powerless in matrimonial decision-making -- including decision making on matters as vital and personal as their health,
sexuality and fertility. Therefore, to attain the Global Health Plan
targets, SMI will tailor its programs to address issues affecting rural cross-riverian women, creating awareness on maternal health issues, and delivering practical and effective empowerment programs. SMI will also provide comprehensive and high-quality reproductive
health services through multisectoral integrated approach. In doing this, SMI Cross River state will be collaborating with traditional rulers, community groups, local and international organizations, businesses and philanthropists, medical professionals and health related organizations, media and Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Cross River State
Government to deliver best outcome on all SMI projects within the state. |
