An Evaluation of the Community Response to HIV and AIDS in Nigeria has shown that Community-Based Organisations (CBO) does add value to the national response to HIV/AIDS and have greater impact in the rural areas.  These formed part of the information released at a stakeholders meeting to present the findings of the study held on Tuesday 24th May, 2011 at the NACA Call Centre Conference Hall, Lagos house, Abuja. A presentation was made on the rationale, methodology, processes and findings of the study conducted to evaluate the HIV/AIDS community response in Nigeria. This same study has been conducted in some other African countries and has helped to provide a road map for HIV community response in such countries.

The welcome note was delivered by Dr Kayode Ogungbemi on behalf of the NACA Director-General, Professor John Idoko. In his welcome note, the NACA DG said the study is a right step in the right direction because NACA is intensifying efforts to disintegrate services to community areas across Nigeria. An overview of the rationale for the study was presented by Dr Kayode Ogungbemi, NACA’s Director of Strategic Knowledge Management. He used a graphical presentation to introduce the basics of the study and the heuristic value of the Evaluation.
 
Mr Rene Bonnel, who is part of the team who conducted the study, presented the overall evaluation processes and methodology to the stakeholders in attendance. He said Quasi Experiment method was used in conducting the study and communities were selected and paired to make comparisons based on certain criteria. The research feedback was presented by Dr Manteuffel, Vice President, ICF Macro. She gave a summary of the findings and stated that the level of HIV/AIDS related knowledge, acceptance of people living with HIV/AIDS and HIV testing in Nigeria over the last eight years has increased.  She said the report of the study will be put together after all comments by the stakeholders have been taken.
 
Some recommendations from the study are the use of CBOs to improve service uptake, involvement of traditional and religious institutions at the community level, behaviour communications intensification and review of strategies and interventions to address stigma issues as it relates to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.