The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has called on students, young people, content creators and members of the public to take an active role in promoting HIV awareness and combating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.
The agency made the call while announcing its World AIDS Day HIV Challenge 1.0, a creative competition designed to encourage participants to use their talents and digital platforms to promote accurate HIV information and public acceptance.
The competition, which runs from November 8 to 29, requires participants to produce an original three-minute video highlighting HIV awareness, encouraging acceptance of people living with HIV and showcasing ANSACA’s contributions to the state’s HIV response.
To participate, contestants are required to upload their videos on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, tag ANSACA’s official pages, use the hashtags #Ansacaworldaidsdaychallenge1.0 and #Ansacachallenge1.0, and follow the agency’s social media handles.
Participants must also submit their videos through WhatsApp in DOCUMENT FORMAT to 08069456397. ANSACA emphasised that entries uploaded on social media without WhatsApp submission will not be considered valid.
In a related development, the agency has invited students in tertiary institutions across Anambra State to participate in its 2026 HIV Awareness and Prevention Essay Competition.
The competition, organised through the Campus Action Committee on AIDS (CACA), seeks to equip young people with a platform to use research, knowledge and creative writing to address HIV misinformation, stigma and discrimination.
The application period, which opened on October 27, will close on November 27, 2026.
To qualify, applicants must be students of tertiary institutions in Anambra State, select one of the approved essay topics provided in the application form and submit an original, evidence-based essay of between 500 and 900 words, excluding references.
Applicants are also required to complete the registration form and comply with the competition guidelines.
ANSACA urged interested students to submit their entries before the deadline, noting that young people have an important role to play in challenging harmful misconceptions, promoting HIV prevention and building an inclusive society where people living with HIV are treated with dignity and respect.
The agency encouraged eligible participants to take advantage of both initiatives to contribute to the fight against HIV stigma and strengthen awareness across the state.
Interested students can apply through the official registration link.
