Elisha Cliff Ishaku

HIV / AIDS - Nigeria (West Africa)

Dismissed from his Navy post due to a positive diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, Elisha founded NYPLHAN - an umbrella body representing youths living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Having experienced the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS first-hand, Elisha organised NYPHLAN to have maximum impact upon its 11,000 members and in recognition that Nigeria’s youth are 60% of the total population.

With affiliations to UNICEF and the World Bank, Elisha hopes to lobby government policy makers and campaign to improve the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, ultimately to provide them with political, economic and moral support.

On a wider scale, at an international conference for people living with HIV/AIDS, Elisha spearheaded the formation of the ‘Network of African Youths living with HIV/AIDS’. Elisha has experiences and vast knowledge of HIV/AIDS management. At Oxfam IYP2004 he has been bridging global connections and passing on knowledge to others.