The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has launched a new media project aimed at promoting ethical and solutions-focused reporting on HIV and tuberculosis across seven states.
The initiative, tagged “Amplify the Response,” will run from September to October 2026 and will provide selected journalists with training, resources and access to produce human-centred health stories.
In a statement issued on Monday in Lokoja, AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade, said the project would support journalists covering Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Kogi and Nasarawa states.
According to AHF, the programme will encourage reporting that promotes HIV testing, treatment uptake, stigma reduction and accountability within the healthcare system.
Applications for the initiative will close at the close of business on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Interested journalists can apply through the designated application form or submit their documents to Procurement.Nigeria@
AHF Nigeria currently provides free HIV testing, treatment, care and tuberculosis services across its seven states of operation.
The organisation said Nigeria has recorded progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets but continues to face challenges, including tuberculosis, stigma, misinformation and funding gaps.
“Media is key to closing these gaps,” AHF said. The project will equip participating journalists with scientific knowledge, relevant context and access to sources needed to produce accurate and stigma-free reports.
The stories are expected to prioritise the experiences of people living with HIV and tuberculosis survivors.
At least seven journalists will be selected for the pilot edition. Each participant will be required to develop and publish two in-depth feature or investigative stories during the two-month programme.
The reporting will focus on issues such as stigma reduction, ethical representation, person-first language and rights-based reporting.
Participants will also investigate accountability issues, including access to treatment, budget implementation and community-led monitoring in AHF-supported facilities.
Shortlisted journalists will be notified on September 14, 2026.
Selection will be based on the strength of the story pitch, which carries 35 per cent; relevance of work samples, 15 per cent; journalism experience, 15 per cent; gender diversity, 15 per cent; and editor support, 10 per cent.
AHF, described as the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organisation, provides care to more than 2.9 million people across 50 countries.
Through the Amplify the Response project, the organisation aims to strengthen ethical and human-centred reporting on HIV and TB while helping journalists contribute to increased testing, treatment uptake, reduced stigma and greater accountability in Nigeria’s health sector.
