Stories of Courage - Women and Children Living with HIV

Chinyere Ugwuegbu began covering HIV and AIDS policy issues after a media training made her aware of the challenges orphans face due to Nigeria's policies regulating adoption beyond provincial lines. UNICEF estimates, that by 2007, there were 1.7 million Nigerian children who have lost one or both parents to the epidemic – more than any in other country in Africa. In her story Ugwuegbu reports on an HIV-positive widow seeking support to find suitable homes for her children after she lost her husband to an HIV-related illness.

Ugwuegbu is beginning to see the impact of stories like hers. The chairman of the government’s AIDS Action Committee recently offered help for the orphans featured in her program. “Reporting on HIV is a major driver of the national response in Nigeria,” Ugwuegbu said. “The media is the link between the people and other stakeholders in the business of information sharing.”