CENTRE FOR HIV/AIDS AND STD RESEARCH (CHISTRE)

The Centre for HIV/AIDS and STD Research (CHISTRE) was founded in 2001 in Mgbala Agwa, Imo State, during a devastating health crisis that claimed the lives of many young people. At the time, poverty, misinformation, and stigma fueled the spread of HIV/AIDS. In response, youths were mobilized under the Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum, which later grew into CHISTRE. With the support of online volunteers, CHISTRE gathered vital educational resources and established an HIV/AIDS library in the community health center. The library became a hub of learning and change, empowering young people with knowledge and sparking a wave of awareness campaigns in schools, churches, and marketplaces. HIV/AIDS clubs were created in schools, condoms were distributed to promote safer practices, and within six months, teenage pregnancies dropped significantly. This marked the turning point where CHISTRE transitioned from grassroots awareness to structured, evidence-based interventions. Driven by a passion to expand impact, CHISTRE later extended its work to Northern Nigeria, where Hepatitis and Tuberculosis posed alarming threats. Despite facing ethnic, cultural, and resource barriers, CHISTRE established a presence in Bauchi State. Through the Global Fund’s GC7 project, the organization engaged in active case finding for TB, reaching remote villages where health services were almost non-existent. These efforts revealed deeper systemic health gaps—villages without clinics, mothers walking hours to seek care, and preventable deaths due to lack of access. This experience reshaped CHISTRE’s vision: beyond HIV, Hepatitis, or TB, the organization became a voice for equity, justice, and the right to health. From its beginnings in Mgbala Agwa to its mission across Northern Nigeria, CHISTRE’s journey has been defined by persistence, compassion, and a commitment to bridging health gaps for vulnerable communities.