A Kaduna-based Non Governmental Organization, Arrida Relief Foundation of Nigeria is to empower women infected with HIV/AIDS across the state. Each of the women will receive N20,000 loans.

Rabi Salisu, President of the Foundation disclosed this while distributing Ramadan food items to 2,000 vulnerable women among whom were 120 HIV/AIDS infected persons on Wednesday in Rigasa community, Kaduna.

“The victims paid a courtesy call on our Foundation and complained that they were finding it difficult to feed themselves and their children as a result of the death of their husbands. So we decided to donate these food items to them including the vulnerable women.

“The Foundation is also going to collate data of HIV/AIDS positive women in the state and empower them with at least N20,000 interest-free loan in order to make them self reliant,” she said.

She said in this Ramadan period the foundation targeted distribution of food items to 5,000 vulnerable women but has so far been able to distribute to 2,000 of them due to the foundations lean resources.

“We are going to partner with relevant stakeholders to see how we can continue to assist these women especially through empowerment,” Rabi said.

The President and Founder of Al-umma Foundation, Aisha Usman who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries said most of the HIV/AIDS victims are into Skills Acquisition ranging like pomade making, Knitting and tailoring.

She also lamented that the victims and their children have been facing stigmatisation. “Some people don’t even want to buy the items they are producing. While their children that attend government schools are being chased away.

“If government and wealthy individuals can come to their aide, they can be self reliant,” she said.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows distribution of Ramadan food items to vulnerable women including HIV/AIDs positive women by Arrida Foundation in Rigasa community, Kaduna on Wednesday.