CiSHAN was established in August 2000, as a coalition of over 3,000 indigenous non-governmental, non-profit making organizations. CiSHAN’s membership spreads across the 774 LGAs; it has coordination and project offices in the 36 states and the FCT-Abuja, thereby putting it in a vantage position of reaching all the nooks and crannies in the country with HIV/AIDS services.
CiSHAN VISION
CiSHAN envisions a society free of HIV and AIDS and all its determinants social, political, economic and cultural consequences.
CiSHAN MISSION
To coordinate, facilitate, advocate and ensure the needs and issues of CSOs working on HIV and AIDS are addressed and to provide a coordinated and coherent input into the national response to HIV/AIDS.
The organization was created with the aim of building a mechanism for the Civil Society to engage with stakeholders and government in building a strong national HIV and AIDS response in recognition of the roles and proximity of the CSOs to grass root communities
The main constituencies of CiSHAN are the Network of People living with HIV in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) which represents over 450 support groups, the National Youth Network on HIV/AIDS (NYNETHA) representing over 300 youth organizations, the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa Nigeria (SWAAN) which has a chapter in each state in the country and the Interfaith coalition which brings together representatives of the Christian and Muslim faith (Christian Association of Nigeria – CAN and National Supreme council on Islamic affairs – NSCIA). Other constituencies are Media, Arts and Entertainment, Nigeria AIDS Research Network and the Nigeria Diversity Network (NDN) that represents groups’ at most high risks of infection.
CiSHAN speaks with one Strong voice on issues of HIV and AIDS; CiSHAN recognizes the need to bring local government and state level capacity to the same at the national level in terms of coordination, to improve its effectiveness. CiSHAN is determined to shoulder its responsibility to promote and advocate for universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support in Nigeria.
Background SETTING THE AGENDA
