About Nepwhan

Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) was formed in 1998 to serve as a collective voice of PLHIV in the country.  Thus, NEPWHAN was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the programs and activities of support groups, associations, organizations and constituencies of PLHIV in Nigeria. 

In terms of directional thrust, the Network set for itself, two main tasks: –

Mobilization of PLHIV all over the country, organizing them into support groups and empowering them to join in the national response with the aim of reducing and eventually eliminating further spread of the virus;

Mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS on the life of PLHIV, PABA, orphans and vulnerable children and right protection. 

Our Membership

NEPWAN has several categories of membership. Full membership is reserved for the recognised organisation of HIV positive people in each state or territory. Associate membership is open to other positive organisations or networks and individuals living with HIV. Affiliate membership is open to any organisation, group or individual regardless of serostatus. Honorary membership may be granted in recognition of the significant contribution of particular HIV positive individuals to furthering the interests of people living with HIV nationally. All membership applications are decided by a vote of the representatives of the full members of the Association.

Background Of Nepwhan

The first case of HIV in Nigeria was announced in 1986.  As in other parts of the world, the infection came into Nigeria with its full complement of attending fear, stigma, discrimination and rejection.  It is therefore, not surprising that people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) tended to hide their status.  Even when terminally ill, the cause of their illness is rather ascribed to other infections such as Tuberculosis or Typhoid.  The recognition of the fact that conventional NGOs were not satisfying the needs of PLHIV while they tended to show-case them as objects on demonstration at enlightenment campaigns first led to the desire to form NGO that comprise only PLHIV. 
With the passage of time, PLHIV became more responsive and sought for more roles to play.  This led to the formation of the earliest support groups of PLHIV in 1997.  The idea of a national network of PLHIV that will bring together existing support groups was first muted towards the end of 1998, and members of existing support groups were called together to form a network that same year at a meeting held in Kaduna.  Lack of capacity and basic infrastructure however severely limited activities of this young organization in 1998.  In the year 2000, PLHIV from all over Nigeria were again called together to fashion a way to move the network forward.  

Nepwhan Today

Since 2000, the Network has made tremendous contributions to the struggle against HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, and it currently has a support group membership of 600, which are spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.  The Network has six zonal offices and has established its chapters in the 36 States and FCT. In order to respond to specific needs of vulnerable groups, NEPWHAN had in 2005 established sub-networks commonly referred to as constituencies.  These sub-networks are Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN), Association of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS, and Association of Positive Youths living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (APYIN), all working together in the principles of three-ones for the achievement of the overall goals and objectives of the Network.  Since then, NEPWHAN has been actively involved in the mobilization of PLHIV throughout the Federation and organizing them into new or existing support groups thereby broadening its own organizational base.  Today, NEPWHAN is regarded as one of the most organised PLHIV networks in sub-saharan Africa.