Introduction
Generation-Negative, or “Gen-N”, is a national youth-focused HIV prevention campaign in Nigeria.
Generation-Negative
Overview
Background
Launched on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2022, Generation-Negative (Gen-N) is a five-year HIV prevention campaign that seeks to “harness the collective energy of Nigeria’s youth to realize an HIV negative generation.” Source
Through strong collaboration with young people and adolescents, Gen-N aims to remove barriers for youth accessing HIV care and services, such as HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to ultimately increase HIV prevention, treatment and care services among young people and adolescents in Nigeria. Gen-N also seeks to address HIV-related stigma by celebrating youth-friendly health care workers and promoting the stories of youth advocates, such as the MOSAIC NextGen Squad.
The campaign also plays a crucial role in “brining all youth-focused HIV communication [in Nigeria] under one umbrella”, allowing the campaign’s branding, messaging and material to be universally accessed by local and international organizations involved in HIV service Source.
Official launch and promotion
The Gen-N campaign was unveiled nationally on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2022. Prior to the launch, several run-up events were held in November 2022 featuring speakers and activities from partner organizations such as Society for Family Health (SFH), APIN, UNICEF, FHI 360 and UNAIDS. Several branded promotional events took place prior to, and during, the campaign’s launch, including a roadshow and media event featuring NACA Head of Prevention Daniel Ndukwe, FHI 360 Nigeria Project Director Patrick Akani and MOSAIC Project Youth Advisor Adaobi Olisa.
To promote the launch, Gen-N also published a campaign landing page providing messaging, images and shareable social media posts for partners and media.
“It is within our power to stop the spread of HIV, but we cannot expect young people to do it alone when they are not empowered with the skills to stay HIV negative, shamed for visiting health facilities, taking medications, or buying condoms.”
– Daniel Ndukwe, NACA Head of Prevention. [Source: calitown.com]
Youth involvement
Adolescents and young people played an active role in the design, creation and refinement of the Gen-N campaign. Activities included a consultative design workshop facilitated by adolescent girls and young women in which the name of the campaign was chosen, and the testing of the campaign’s messaging and materials from 130 young people. Source
Implementation and funding
Gen-N is primarily implemented by the Nigerian National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and through the MOSAIC Project, coordinated by FHI 360 and funded by PEPFAR through USAI
Collateral examples
Social media channels
In the news
- ABUJA: Nigerian Youths Gear Up To Lead First Ever Youth Focused HIV Prevention Campaign (December 2022)
- World AIDs Day: Nigeria launches five-year HIV prevention campaign
Resources
- Gen-N campaign launch landing page
- Gen-N Community Dailogue Guide (PrEPWatch)
- PrEP Demand Generation Package for AGYW in Nigeria (PrEPWatch)
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