No fewer than 50,000 people are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Kogi state.
The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Agency on HIV/AIDS (KOSACA), Ibrahim Anate, disclosed this on Monday at a one-day stakeholders meeting in Lokoja, the state capital.
The stakeholders meeting, ebirareporters.com learnt, was aimed to set an agenda for a faith-based response to stigma and gender justice in the context of HIV.
Anate further disclosed that while 36,066 people living with HIV are currently receiving treatment in Kogi State, 19,000 have failed to show up for treatment or counseling.
He opined that stigmatization and discrimination against people living with HIV are reasons why many individuals fail to declare their status.
The Acting Executive Secretary of KOSACA criticized some health facilities in Kogi State for allegedly discriminating against people living with HIV.
According to him, “There are 170,000 new infection cases of HIV in Nigeria. Globally, we have 40 million new HIV infection cases. This is alarming. The issue of stigmatization of people living with HIV is very worrisome. While some people keep stigmatizing those living with HIV, some health facilities are also guilty of this cruel treatment.
“This is what we have been trying to fight against in Kogi State. We are looking forward to a situation where the same nurse or doctor will attend to all patients at the hospital irrespective of their HIV status. They should not be kept in a separate ward.”
While expressing optimism that Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will sign the anti-HIV stigmatization bill into law, Anate called on religious leaders to champion the campaign against HIV stigmatization in Kogi State.
Earlier in her remarks, the Executive Secretary of Ninerela+ Nigeria, Amber Erinmwinhe, reiterated the organization’s commitment to ending HIV stigmatization and gender-based violence in Nigeria.
“HIV is not a death sentence. Many PLHIV have lost their lives, because of fear and stigma and discrimination. Religious leaders must rise to the occasion by educating their followers on the dangers of stigmatization against people living with HIV(PLHIV),” she added.
the stakeholders meeting aimed to set an agenda for a faith-based response to stigma and gender justice in the context of HIV
It was organized by Ninerela+ Nigeria with support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Center for Integrated Health Program.
