OLUWATOSIN IGHOTEGUONO
Some stakeholders in the health sector have advocated more awareness campaign on HIV and AIDS at the grassroots level if the fight against the disease is to be won.
They spoke with staff reporter, Oluwatosin Ighoteguono in Akure, Ondo state on the occasion of this year’s World Aids Day with the theme: Take the right path: My health, my right!”
Nigeria has an HIV prevalence rate of 1.4 per cent among the general population aged 15–64 years, with an estimated two million people living with HIV.
The UNAIDS 2023 report showed that approximately 160,000 children aged 0–14 are living with HIV, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring each year.
According to experts, the larger percentage of the new infections are recorded at the grassroots due to lack of knowledge on how best to prevent the disease.
The coordinator AIDs, Tuberculosis and malaria on the team of covid-19 response mechanism programme in Ondo state, Mrs Jumoke Ogunyemi explained that taking awareness campaign on HIV and AIDS to communities would not only educate residents on the debilitating effects of the disease but would also teach them on preventive measures.
On his part, the coordinator network of people living with HIV and AIDS, NEPWAN, Ondo state chapter, Prince Adeyemi Aladelusi while calling for improved media campaign on AIDS at the grassroots level thanked Ondo state government for regular provision of anti retroviral drugs saying people with HIV virus can still attain their lifespan through lifestyle modification and regular medical check.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria, the Project manager, Ondo state agency for the control of AIDS, ODSACA, Dr Dayo Adegbulu, said much progress had been made in the areas of sensitization and media campaign on HIV and AIDS but expressed worry at the high prevalence of mother-to-child transmission, urging Nigerians to know their HIV status and take necessary steps when they test positive.
Speaking on this year’s theme of the World Aids day, Take the right path: My health, my right!” Dr Adegbulu noted that this help people to take responsibility for their health while those living with HIV should be shown love by families and communities as a way of helping them to overcome the effects of their condition.