Tuesday, 11 August 2015

PROFILE OF AN HIV/AIDS ADVISOR, PROGRAMMER, RESEARCHER AND ACTIVIST, Nigeria (Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje)


Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a Nigeria-based HIV/AIDS programme manager, writer/author, advocate, trainer, communicator and care provider. He is a Professional Manager, Trainer and Health Systems Strengthening and Monitoring and Evaluation consultant. Dr. Adirieje’s HIV/AIDS work spans Global Fund (GFATM) experiences include implementing GF Rounds 5, 8 and 9 grants as sub-recipient (SR), sub-sub recipient (SSR) and Principal Recipient (PR) on Home-Based Care (HBC), Community Systems Strengthening (CSS) and Home-Based Care respectively. He also served as a consultant to Nigeria’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) in performing oversight of GF projects/grants in Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Anambra and Rivers States. He also implemented GFR9 project as a sub-sub recipient (SSR)/Implementing Agency for Home-Based Care in Imo State, and Prevention (out of school youth) in FCT under GFR9. He was the consultant for the development of the ‘Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria Comprehensive Manual of Procedures’ for the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA). He is the author of the booklet titled “HIV/AIDS Care: Beyond ARVs and Advocacy” which was distributed at the 13th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) held in Nairobi Kenya in 2003.

He was a Trainer/Resource Person and Supervisor, training of 125 persons from the 36 States and FCT on M&E, and supervised the M&E of the HBC component of the GFR9 in the 36 States and FCT under the Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria during 2010-2011. Uzodinma was the consultant of World Bank and NACA that developed Imo State Multi-sectoral HIV & AIDS Monitoring and Evaluation Plan in 2012. It was during his tenure as the Administrative Secretary/Head of Management of the Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria [CiSHAN] that the organization successfully concluded the implementation of GFR5 Grant as an SR and also became a PR of the GFATM. He participates in the meetings of Nigeria’s CCM for GF. He’s currently the National Coordinator/Executive Director of Afrihealth Optonet Association - a think-tank, community-focused,  national civil society, not-for-profit, non-religious, non-governmental organization (NGO)/Coalition of 600 community-based organizations, groups and stakeholders in the 36 States of Nigeria and global south, involved in Health, Community and Development Systems Strengthening, for Primary Health Care (PHC), HIV/AIDS/TB and Malaria, Vaccinations/Immunizations, Preventing/Controlling Poverty-Related Diseases; Nutrition and Food Security; Energy and Environment; and Empowerment, Gender, Good Governance and Human Rights.

With over a decade of experience working with Governments, Senate and House of Representatives Health and HIV/AIDS Committees, Federal and State Ministries of Health, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and line MDAs, Multi-lateral and United Nations Agencies, Development Partners, local/international NGOs/CBOs/FBOs at National, State, Local Government and Community/Ward levels, and managing donor funds; Dr. Adirieje also consults for Federal Ministry of Health, UNAIDS, UNDP, ILO, Unicef, Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS. He was the Program Manager, International Conference on HIV/AIDS and STIs in Africa 2005, Abuja, Nigeria (ICASA 2005)/Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA). He was the founder and moderator of the ICASA 2005 forum - an email forum for the exchange of HIV/AIDS views and news/information between stakeholders, for the purpose of ensuring that the objectives of the International Conference on Aids and STIs (sexually transmitted infections) in Africa [ICASA 2005], Abuja, Nigeria are completely realised. Uzo’ served as an on-site Reporter, 13th International Conference on HIV/AIDS and STDs in Africa (ICASA) 2003, Nairobi, Kenya; 21st-26th Sept; Health and Development Networks (HDN), Ireland and Thailand. He was the Secretary, International Steering Committee, 14th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA 2005), Nigeria; as well as the Secretary, National Scientific Committee, ICASA 2005, and a member of the conference’s Communication and Mobilisation sub-committee, National Task Force on ICASA 2005. Previously, he worked as the Administrative Secretary, National Programmes Coordinator and Director Planning & Development at the Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN), 2010-2011.

Dr. Adirieje has received the following additional M&E/evidence-generation related trainings from the USAID/Measure Evaluation/MSH: Optimizing your M&E team's performance: Improving internal communication and dealing with conflict; Overcoming the challenge of building and leading effective M&E teams for public sector, NGO and civil society organizations; The Virtual Leadership Development Programme (a Diploma course); Country Ownership & Organizational Capacity Building; and Creating an Enabling Environment for M&E Community of Practice [CoP]. He has also received training in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Data Management; use and application of QuickBooks software; and Peer Participatory Rapid Health Assessment for Action (PPRHAA). A World Bank-trained Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocate and Health Economist, with involvement in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) as an implementer, supervisor and trainer since 2010; Uzodinma also holds a doctoral degree in Optometry from the College of Medicines and Health Sciences of Imo (now Abia) State University in 1988. A widely-travelled person, he is a Fellow of the Academy for Capacity Building (FACB), a member of the management steering committee of the Nigeria Association of Evaluators (NAE), and belongs to several professional bodies including the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).

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