The Nation Newspaper

Tag: HIV

  • Agency partners NYSC on HIV/AIDS

    The Nasarawa State HIV and AIDS Control Agency (NASACA) ,is collaborating with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to intensify campaign in schools on the control of HIV and AIDS.

    Dr Umar Zachary, the Executive Director of NASACA, made this known on Monday in Lfia, at a one-day public lecture on HIV and AIDS.

    He said that the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS was “a struggle that must be carried out to its logical conclusion’’

    Zachary advised people to take precautionary measures and go for screening to know their HIV status.

    Zachary said that the event was organised by NYSC HIV/AIDS Fighters Club, to create awareness among students on the need to prevent the spread of HIV virus.

    In his remarks, Mr Omeri David, President of the NYSC HIV/AIDS Fighters Club, advised those who tested positive, to go for medication and live a normal life.

    A participant, Ibrahim Isa, from Government Secondary School, Lafia, said the lecture had educated him on many aspect of the HIV and AIDS control.

    “I learnt HIV/AIDS can be prevented, so people should learn to live healthy life,” he advised.

     

  • Group seeks end to HIV/AIDS stigma, discrimination

    Over 500 church leaders from different denominations gathered for Lagos state’s first inter-denominational Christian Summit on HIV and AIDS stigma and discrimination eradication at the Comforter Cathedral in Ikorodu.

    The summit was organised by Hope for HIV and AIDS International in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ikorodu Division and the Fellowship of Christian Midwives. The church leaders developed strategies to achieve zero HIV–related stigma and discrimination among faith leaders in Lagos.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Christian Affairs, Rev (Dr) Sam Ogedemgbe who represented the government at the summit urged Christian leaders in the state to join government in its efforts at eradicating the disease.

    He advised residents to confirm their HIV status by visiting any of the HIV Counselling and Testing centres (HCT). For those whose status are negative, he said they should strive to maintain the status while those who may test positive should avail themselves of the services provided by the state agency for the control of AIDS.

    The Programme Coordinators of World Association for Christian Communication in the United Kingdom and Canada: Sara Speicher and Sarah Macharia said the partnership with the Christian leaders and other religious leaders is to train them in the art of effective communication and counselling so that they will be able to give correct information about HIV and help persuade their followers against discrimination and stigmatisation.

    Speicher said the project covers only 10 local government areas selected for the pilot scheme to ensure quality while hoping that support will come from

     

  • Group seeks end to HIV/AIDS stigma, discrimination

    Over 500 church leaders from different denominations gathered for Lagos state’s first inter-denominational Christian Summit on HIV and AIDS stigma and discrimination eradication at the Comforter Cathedral in Ikorodu.

    The summit was organised by Hope for HIV and AIDS International in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ikorodu Division and the Fellowship of Christian Midwives. The church leaders developed strategies to achieve zero HIV–related stigma and discrimination among faith leaders in Lagos.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Christian Affairs, Rev (Dr) Sam Ogedemgbe who represented the government at the summit urged Christian leaders in the state to join government in its efforts at eradicating the disease.

    He advised residents to confirm their HIV status by visiting any of the HIV Counselling and Testing centres (HCT). For those whose status are negative, he said they should strive to maintain the status while those who may test positive should avail themselves of the services provided by the state agency for the control of AIDS.

    The Programme Coordinators of World Association for Christian Communication in the United Kingdom and Canada: Sara Speicher and Sarah Macharia said the partnership with the Christian leaders and other religious leaders is to train them in the art of effective communication and counselling so that they will be able to give correct information about HIV and help persuade their followers against discrimination and stigmatisation.

    Speicher said the project covers only 10 local government areas selected for the pilot scheme to ensure quality while hoping that support will come from

     

  • HIV and AIDS

    The term AIDS is an acronym that stands for “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome”. It is acquired because the victims do not inherit the condition, but contract it. Immune deficiency means that the victim’s natural bodily defense mechanisms are unable to function properly, and “syndrome” refers to the combination of different abnormalities or diseases making up this condition.

    AIDS is a complex of diseases and symptoms resulting from unexplained immune deficiency; caused by a retrovirus, culminating in a “mixed-bag” of life-threatening opportunistic infections, which invariably results in death. The retrovirus that causes AIDS is known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with types I and II already isolated.

    Although there have been wide speculations and insinuations as to the origin of the virus (HIV), the fact still remains that the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed in North America, Europe and Central Africa about the same time in 1981. Since then, cases are being reported all over the world and most countries now have people with “full-blown” AIDS as well as carriers infected with the virus. It occurs in about 1 to 10% of the population and the incubation period is 4 to 10 years.

    The virus has been isolated mostly from semen, vaginal secretion and blood. It is generally believed to be contracted through sexual intercourse, transfusion of contaminated blood, use of un-sterile instruments such as needles, blades and catheters, trans-placental infection, organ transplant, tattooing and circumcision as well as breast-feeding.

    The major characteristic feature of AIDS is weight loss of about 10kg within 1 month without a known cause. Other symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, persistent cough, skin infections, oro-pharyngeal candidiasis, swollen lymph glands and night sweating.

    Prevention

    Prevention of AIDS is achieved through avoidance of casual sex, and other factors that may predispose to HIV infection; as well as sterile procedures in clinico-surgical practices.

    Treatment and Control

    Before recommending our treatment and control packages for HIV/ AIDS, it is pertinent to ask the following questions:

    1. Why do outbreaks of serious infectious diseases leave some people devastated and others free?

    2. If some people are known to be carriers and could go around with the virus for up to 15 years before they physically breakdown, couldn’t there be ways of helping to cleanse the virus from the system before it manifests?

    3. Are the sufferer’s thoughts, aspirations and living habits not affecting the disease cycle as well as response to treatment?

    If yes, then in Holistic Lifecare, we are committed to total cure of HIV/AIDS sufferers when they have just been tested and diagnosed positive, when they are still able to eat, drink and move around on their own, but not when they are expecting their funeral the next day!

    The Holistic Natural Remedy being suggested for restoring good health, vitality, and total cure in HIV/AIDS sufferers; is a combination of herbal, nutritional and psycho-social therapies at the appropriate time and in the right proportion. Notable among the useful herbs for HIV/AIDS are Aloe vera, Allium sativum, Harpagophytum zeyheri, Echinacea augustifolia and Zingiber officinale.

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

  • Why govt may not achieve HIV prevention goal, by DG

    HE Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. John Idoko, has warned that Nigeria may fail to achieve prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015.

    According to him, unless  state governments begin to actively participate in the campaign against HIV/AIDS, the goal would be a mirage.

    Idoko is worried that despite the country’s little  improvement, the statistics on mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission overrides the efforts to combat the disease.

    The DG spoke at the dissemination of a report on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Scale-Up, organised by Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP)  in Abuja.

    He said in the last four years, the country has  not achieved significant result in the battle against HIV/AIDS despite interventions from the Federal Government and development partners. He advocated a change of approach and push for better  partnership from state governments.

    Idoko said: “The problem is the problem of the people, the  people who are contracting HIV at the community and state levels. It is the health of the states that is being affected; it is the development of the states that is being affected.

    “Therefore, in this problem, neither you nor I from the centre for the development partners can really make progress in this area. Unless states understand the good in it and we obtain political commitment, ownership and shared responsibility from them, otherwise the response cannot be suitable and we will not make progress at the end of the day.”

     

     

  • FCT records drop in HIV/AIDS prevalence

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has recorded a 10 per cent drop in HIV/AIDS prevalence in the last two years, the FCT HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dr Yakubu Mohammed has said. The figure was 8.6 percent in 2010 and 7.5 in 2012.

    He said the programme may not have achieved peak performance over the period in terms of intervention on HIV/AIDS in the territory, it has made tremendous progress compared to two years ago. FCT is one of the high risk HIV burden areas in the country as identified by the National HIV Control programme.

    According the Coordinator, who made the disclosure while fielding questions from newsmen during a one-day FCT HIV/AIDS Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on Acceleration of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Scale- Up in Abuja over the weekend, the reduction is due to a paradigm shift in addressing the challenge of the scourge by the FCT health sector response strategies.

    “What this means is that the prevalence is reducing; and we are committed to sustaining the success recorded so far, as what we want is that by the end of 2015, the HIV/AIDS prevalence in the FCT to be less than five percent

    “With the support of other key stakeholders in the fight against the scourge, we will come out with a blue print that will drive the process for the attainment of our target, for prevention of new cases of HIV/AIDS in the FCT.

    “We have made tremendous progress; and we are still making progress; and although we can’t really say that we have reached where we are expected to be, but we know that our performance has increased, and is still increasing over the period”, he said.

    Earlier in her remark, the Director, Public Health, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) of the FCTA, Dr Folasade Momoh, noted that given the peculiar HIV/AIDS epidemic profile of the nation characterised by high prevalence rate, high MTCT burden, low PMTCT and ART coverage, low retention rate of persons living with HIV, what is required is strong commitment, efficiency and accountability by all stakeholders, in order to accelerate the attainment of various Universal Access (UA) targets for the elimination of various PMTCT by 2015.

    According to her, the HIV/AIDS epidemic situation in Nigeria still remains a major public health challenge of high magnitude, in spite of enormous resources government is committing to combat it at the national, state, and local government levels.

    She therefore urged all stakeholders collaborating with the secretariat to embrace its initiatives and vigorously pursue the course, in order to contribute towards the realisation of the set objectives; “and in turn reinforce our policy trust and facilitate our ownership and sustainability drive in FCT.”

  • Senate public hearing on HIV/AIDS discrimination

    Senate public hearing on HIV/AIDS discrimination

  • FG develop new blueprint to eradicate HIV/AIDS

    FG develop new blueprint to eradicate HIV/AIDS

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said that the Government is working on a new blueprint for the eradication of HIV/AIDS in the country.

    He was speaking to Dr. Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the United Nations’ Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, at State House, Abuja.

    He said: ‘I have instructed the National Action Committee on AIDS, NACA, to produce a new blueprint for the eradication of AIDS, with necessary milestones, clearly defined responsibilities of all stakeholders and expected results.’

    A multi-faceted approach to eradicate malaria in the country, he said, was also receiving attention of the government.

    Stressing that Nigeria appreciated the huge investments by the international community, especially the G-8 nations in the fight against these diseases, he said that the country is totally committed to doing right things in the health sector.

    Adding that Nigeria was ready to continue collaboration with the Global Fund, he said that he was committed to eradicating polio from Nigeria by 2015.

    As he welcomed the invitation to be a Co-Chair, representing Africa, in the next replenishment cycle of the Global Fund, he said that it was ‘an honour’ to Nigeria.

    Other Co-Chairs included the UN Secretary General, one leader each from the G-8, the BRICS nations and the private sector.

    Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Mark Dybul, said that the Global Fund was interested in strengthening the partnership with Nigeria in order to further develop the health care sector in the country.

    He expressed appreciation for the leadership of President Jonathan for the health sector, and his support for the activities of the Global Fund in Nigeria.

    The Global Fund Executive Director was accompanied to the State House by Dr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Friends of Africa.

  • People living with AIDS seek national attention

    For how long would Nigeria continue to depend on foreign countries and international donors to fund HIV and AIDS treatment?

    This is the question on the lips on People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA).

    The trend of waiting for a donor before something meaningful can be done, they said, was dangerous as donors can withdraw their funds and Nigeria will be worse for it.

    They enjoined the Federal Government to have a national response to address the problem of HIV and AIDS in the country.

    Reacting to the development, Health Minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the country is not lacking in national response to the disease.

    He said the country has never depended on donors to tackle the issue of HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment as it has programmes funded by the country to prevent the disease.

    “Nigeria is not a donor dependent country. Less than 10 per cent of health care funding is from donor agencies,” he added.

    He said the country by virtue of its membership of the United Nations should be getting donations from the body’s agencies, stressing that it has never failed in its obligation as a member country to pay its dues, which is a prerequisite to getting donations.

    Chukwu said HIV and AIDS is an emotional problem but not the biggest killer of people, stressing that there are other problems that needed more attention.

    They wanted the country to take ownership of HIV and AIDS funding so that when donor groups and foreign countries pull out from supporting the country, it would be able to manage its problem without having to go cap in hand begging for support.

    Executive Director, Positive Action for Treatment Access (PATA), Mrs Rolake Odetoyinbo, said Nigeria needs to have more local ownership by investing in the management and treatment of the disease.

    She stressed that most of the treatment is funded by the international partners, which is risky.

    Mrs Odetoyinbo said: “There is a need for the Federal Government to make commitment to the course financially. If the donors withdraw their funding we will be in trouble.

  • HIV cure for the first time in a baby, say scientists

    RESEARCHERS say they have, for the first time, cured a baby born with HIV; a development that could help improve treatment of babies infected at birth.

    The only fully cured AIDS patient recognised worldwide is the so-called “Berlin patient,” American Timothy Brown. He is considered cured of HIV and leukemia five years after receiving bone marrow transplants from a rare donor naturally resistant to HIV. The marrow transplant was aimed at treating his leukemia.

    But in this new case, the baby girl received nothing more invasive or complex than commonly available antiretroviral drugs. The difference, however, was the dosage and the timing: starting less than 30 hours after her birth.

    “Prompt antiretroviral therapy in newborns that begins within days of exposure may help infants clear the virus and achieve long-term remission without lifelong treatment by preventing such viral hideouts from forming in the first place,” said lead researcher Deborah Persaud, of Johns Hopkins Children’s Centre in Baltimore, Maryland.

    It appears to be the first time this was achieved in a baby, she said.

    The baby was infected by her HIV-positive mother, and her treatment with therapeutic doses of antiretroviral drugs began even before her own positive blood test came back.

    The typical protocol for high-risk newborns is to give them smaller doses of the drugs until results from an HIV blood test is available at six weeks old.

    Tests showed the baby’s viral count steadily declined until it could no longer be detected 29 days after her birth.

    The child was given follow-up treatment with antiretroviral until 18 months, at which point doctors lost contact with her for 10 months. During that period she was not taking antiretroviral.

    Researchers then were able to do a series of blood tests and none gave an HIV-positive result.

    Natural viral suppression without treatment is an exceedingly rare occurrence, seen in fewer than half a percent of HIV-infected adults, known as “elite controllers,” whose immune systems are able to rein in viral replication and keep the virus at clinically undetectable levels.