The Nation Newspaper

Tag: HIV/AIDS

  • LSACA, LASODA enlighten 250 disabled on HIV/AIDS

    The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) will  ensure an AIDS-free Lagos, and achieve the 9-90-90 initiative by 2030.

    The agency, in its efforts at achieving the target, has concluded the sensitisation of 250 blind, deaf and disabled people in five batches of 50 participants per batch. It was done in collaboration with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Lagos State Association of the Deaf (LSAD), and Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB).

    According to LSACA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, the agency has been sensitising people in various sectors in the state, including transporters/road workers, market men and women, and people with disability “so as to achieve the 9-90-90- initiative by 2030.

    The state government through  Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Dr Temowo said, is supporting the agency to achieve this and funding has not been an issue. “We are up and doing, highly proactive to ensure that Lagos State achieve that target. And that Prevention of Mother-to -Child Transmission (PMTCT) is achieved,”he said.

    Dr Temowo added that the 250 participants displayed high intelligence. “And that is to tell you that despite their challenges, they won’t allow anything to slow them down. In the same vein, we realised that they are facing some challenges in achieving healthcare in public hospitals and other facilities; all these have been noted and documented. And will be addressed,”he said.

    He continued: “It is out of sense for inclusion that we have been able to develop brailles for them and we are proud that this is just the beginning. Not only that Governor, Ambode has initiated LASODA to ensure an all inclusive society.

    “This training has revealed that the deaf and the blind people had unprotected sex with one another. The hearing communities took advantage of the poverty in the country and among the deaf women and girls to lure them into having unprotected sex with them, which further exposed them to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. Our message now is for consistent and correct use of condoms by all- both able bodied and people with disability.”

    He assured that anybody, who stigmatises or discriminates against people with HIV/AIDS will be prosecuted according to the law of the land. “Stigmatisation remains a major challenge among the hearing community and can be better imagined among the deaf community. The deaf found it difficult to seek medical and social support in combating their health, employment, legal and social challenges, thereby resorting to self-help, which further enhanced their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection,”he said.

    He added: ”Low self esteem, lack of appropriate legal framework made lots of deaf women silently endured dehumanising conditions of sexual and domestic violence without course for redress hence the need for the programm for them to know more about the basic facts about HIV, mode of transmission and prevention, prevention of mother-to -child transmission (PMTCT), universal safety precautions and referral linkages and how to negotiate for safe sex through the use of condom and hand washing.”

    LASODA General Manager, Dr Babatunde Awelenje, who was honoured by LSACA at the event, said people with disability should not shy away from HIV screening, because, “the earlier everybody knows their status the better the disability is put “behind you and you will move forward”.

    “That you have a form of disability or the other should not make you live a care-free life. Be cautious. Do not engage in indiscriminate sex, drug abuse, or drug injection that can predispose you to HIV. Disabled are constantly exposed to discrimination and sexual abuse, but with the support of the state governor through LASODA and the cooperation of relevant agencies and the Police we are getting justice for this critical members of the society,” Dr Awelenje said.

  • ‘Disease Control Centre removes Zamfara from CSM endemic list’

    The National Center for Disease Control has removed Zamfara from its list of states prone to Cerebro Spinal Meningitis ( CSM ) outbreak, says the state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Lawali Liman.

    Liman made the disclosure on Tuesday while briefing a team of journalists on National Democracy Dividend Media Tour organized by the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ).

    He explained that the removal of Zamfara was a result of its sustained surveillance and case management of the disease.

    “Out of the 147 wards, we only have challenges in seven wards at a time when some states of the federation are facing threats in all their wards,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the state government recently renovated and equipped Primary Healthcare Center in each of the 147 wards to bring health care services closer to rural dwellers.

    “Apart from the recent recruitment of 100 medical doctors and over 300 nurses and midwives, the state government is also working towards the establishment of referral hospitals in Talata-Mafara, Gummi and Kaura-Namoda,” he added.

    Liman also explained that the government distributed HIV/AIDS kits to 90 health facilities across the state with a view to checking prevalence and avoiding spread.

    He said that the effort has enabled the state retain its position of having the lowest cases of HIV/AIDS in the country.

    Over 40 journalists drawn from various media houses, led by NUJ National President, Abdulwaheed Odusile,  are on the tour.

    NAN

  • It’s a new dawn for Nigeria in fight against HIV/AIDS —Tallen

    Nigeria still hold the unenviable position as the second most burden HIV/AIDS nation globally, with little funding from government to address the situation. Mrs Pauline Tallen, the Chairperson of the newly inaugurated Board of the National Agency for  Control of Aids Agency, in this interview with our correspondents, Vincent Ikuomola and Oluwasegun Victor, spoke about the board’s determination to turns things around, especially on the need to increase number of people on treatment.

    Do you have any particular agenda for this position that your in now?

    As the chairman of the NACA Board, what are you bringing to the table?

    What we are bringing to the table is a new spirit of advocacy; serious advocacy, serious awareness and to ensure that the spread of HIV- yes we know that AIDS is deadly but people can live with it and survive and love their normal lives, if people accept that their situation and the reality of it.

    I’m most worried about the status of Nigeria on the world map with regards to the prevalence of AIDS. It is quiet disturbing and not much is being done as regards addressing the situation. Yes, something is being done but out of almost three (3) million that are affected, we are treating only one million.

    What happens to the rest? And even the one million that we are treating is in reliance with foreign donors. It is not acceptable. I know that the president has inherited so many problems in every field but I know that he respects the sanctity of life. He knows very well that as a leaders, one of the greatest responsibilities that you can do for your citizens is to protect lives and property and ensure the health of the citizens because the health of the citizens translates into a very productive citizenry.

    I am very much pretty sure that we are going to enjoy the political will of the president to turn things around. This week is very critical for us, apart from the Council on AIDS, we are receiving the Executive Director of USAIDS and the President has accepted to receive him. He did not delegate that to the Minister of Health, that alone shows that he is committed to turn things around for NACA and address burning issues that are on ground.

    Government will throw its weight on this, I’m speaking with confidence because I know that the political will is there. Once we have the political will, we are sure that we will turn things around.

    South Africa has the highest prevalence rate of AIDS in the world but South Africa is addressing it very well. I want Nigerians to know that the political will is there and things will be better. There is much that the civil servants can do but with the board, we have a higher authority and we shall do the right thing.

    South Africa started it and now they are treating all those with HIV/AIDS for free. I believe that can do it. We are already reaching out to our brothers in the upper and lower houses of the National Assembly  and all the chairmen of committees on health, they are people that we have working with for the past 20 years since the ban on politics was lifted, some of them are my brothers and friends and they have given me their word that they will do anything possible to gives us the necessary support. So the political will is there. We will not always y the grace of God rely of foreign donors. Assuming if they pull back today, what do we do?

    So your appointment is to come and revolutionalise  the system?

    By the grace of God.

    Apart from advocacy, which other areas do you plan to go into?

    We are planning to go into mother and child transmission issues. This is a very important and strategic areas that we must address, not only treating the mother but the unborn child, and some are lucky because I’ve seen cases where some infected mothers give birth to free children. God works in mysterious ways.

    I was Commissioner for Health in my state of Plateau between 1994 and 1995. I worked closely with these people. I’m not new to these areas and their exceptional cases.

    But for those that are born and unfortunately gets infected, that child got it through not fault of his/hers and needs to be treated and must be on medication for life.  That is an area that we must strongly address and ensure that the drugs are there at all times to reach out to those people.

    How about engagement with international donors?

    These are people that have been supporting and assisting us, we must hold them in in high esteem and we must reach out to them and to their higher authorities to sustain that relationship and even have more. We hope to reach out more too. Other international donors that are not with us now, I am prepared to reach to them.

    What do you intend to do with regards to transparency in the disbursement of donor funds?

    I will definitely put my feet down and ensure that we closely monitor that. It it is part of what I just discuss with you colleagues.

    Like the theme of this year’s council meeting is on finance and ensuring that we have value for money that we receive. I want to assure all of our donor agencies that under my watch, I will ensure transparency and that all funds released for this project will be closely followed and properly executed to make the lives of our people better.

    Majority of these three million Nigerians infected with HIV are women who are socially disadvantage, as a foremost female politician, what are you going to do to reach out to them?

    I don’t really want to believe that a majority of people with HIV are women. It’s maybe because the women have subjected themselves to test to know their status. The men have more multiple sex partners and most of them don’t want to subject themselves to screening to know their health status.

    The statistics before us, as a mother and female politician, I am most pained that more women have found themselves in this.  That is why I say we will intensify advocacy and we must not be addressed to talk and enlighten people about this.

    At the early stage, there was much political will. So we will intensify advocacy as political will is the main thing. People should know that AIDS is real and is living with us because now people don’t talk much about AIDS again, but things like cancer. I know cancer is more deadly but with AIDS, if you know your status, you can live your normal life. But that doesn’t mean that we should not talk about it because people are dying in our villages and most youths are wasting away. You don’t even know the statistics of people dying in the villages particularly among the low income class. This is because they don’t have access to good nutrition and access to medications.

    The government has not being forthcoming in the area of assuming responsibility for HIV/AIDS response and this has led to low funding of treatment in the country, how do you ensure that the issue of funding is addressed once and for all? 

    Mr President has the political will. He has the power to give out funds where it is most needed. If he sees the critical need for this,  he will put everything on the table to achieve this.

  • While celebrating cannabis day…

    When the word “cannabis” is used or spoken of, a negative connotation readily comes to mind. It usually goes by different street names like weed, igbo etc.

    Each year on the 20th of April, cannabis advocates around the global world gather to celebrate cannabis culture even though it might be legal or illegal in some countries.

    It is a genus of flowering plant in the family cannabaceae. It is often used as a recreational drug which is only behind alcohol and tobacco.

    Medically, has long been used for hemp fibre, oils and other medicinal purposes. In the United States, it was believed that over 100 million Americans have tried cannabis, with twenty-five million Americans having used it within the past year.

    In Nigeria, there seems to be a widespread abuse of the plant, especially amongst the youths. We find it being abused in parties, gatherings and dark corners in our milieu.

    Smoking it causes a lot of damage to the human body. It shrinks the brain of a person, and can eventually cause grave psychological disorders or death.

    Other side effects of cannabis include the destruction of the lungs and risk of developing cancer of the respiratory tract.

    The effects experienced by users and abusers are variable and will depend upon the dose, method of administration, prior experience, any concurrent drug use, personal expectations, mood state and the social environment in which the drug is used.

    Asides the overtly destructive nature of cannabis, it still has its usefulness, especially within the legal framework of the country. It can be used to provide warmth especially in very cold regions of the world. It is also used in improving appetite in those who are HIV/AIDS positive. Quite ironically, medical conditions like lung cancer and Emphysema have been shown to regress when cannabis is introduced into the mix.

    On the overall scale, the (illegal) use of cannabis should be seriously dissuaded and condemned as this could portend serious health and social risks for us all.

  • Star Times joins UNAIDS in fight against HIV/AIDS

    Star Times Nigeria has joined campaigns against HIV/AIDS disease in Nigeria.

    The leading digital Pay TV provider said it is joining the campaign to eradicate the disease completely from Nigeria and Africa.

    Star Times Nigeria CEO, Justin Zhang, stated these during a courtesy visit to the UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Erasmus Morah at the United Nation office in Abuja.

    According to him: “Star Times is committed to the complete eradication of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria using its media footprint across the country and its’ ability to reach millions of Nigerians even in villages where aid workers are not able to access.

    “The company would assist in the area of broadcasting informative content and engaging youths via entertaining mobile engagement that educate.”

    Morah commended Star Times for its interest in joining in the fight against the epidemic.

    He said that “there is a need to focus on educative contents for mother- to- child transmission of HIV.

    A lot still has to be done in this area to educate pregnant women on the needs to get tested to protect their babies from contracting the virus.

  • People living with HIV/AIDS seeks anti-discrimination

    The Network of People living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria ( NEPHWAN ) has called for full enforcement of the HIV/AIDS ( Anti-Discrimination ) Act, 2014.
    Mr Victor Omoshehin, the National Coordinator, NEPHWAN, made this appeal in an interview with our reporter in Abuja on Thursday.
    Omoshehin noted that many Nigerians were unaware of the law which “protects the fundamental human rights and dignity of people living with and affected by HIV / AIDS’’ in the country.
    According to him, members of the association still suffer from stigma because of inadequate awareness and non-implementation of the law.
    He said that NEPHWAN had documented cases of such violations perpetrated by most employers of labour, who made HIV / AIDS screening a prerequisite for employment.
    “One of the reasons why this act of stigma and discrimination is still there is as a result of low awareness about an Act prohibiting it, especially among employers of labour.
    “Although, there is nothing wrong getting to know the health status of your potential staff.
    “But it should not be done in a way that will hurt them for life, especially when they are HIV positive.

    Read Also:  Dating Site for HIV/AIDS Patients Launched

    “Since the treatment is free and accessible, they should be given the opportunity to work and be productive to themselves and the society at large,” he said.
    Omoshehin, however, advised people living with the virus on the need to accept themselves and leave above stigma.
    “Most times, some of them might have passed the entire employments test but will be dropped once they are asked to go for medical screening.
    “That is why I do tell them to disclose their status with confidence before going for such screening because once these employers know that they know their rights, they will have a rethink,” he said.
    He added that the media, religious leaders, community heads and all stakeholders must provide continuous awareness of the law to put an end to discrimination in the country.
    Newsmen  recalls that the HIV/ AIDS ( Anti-Discrimination ) Bill was signed into law in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
    The Act makes it illegal to discriminate against people because of their HIV status, prohibiting any employer, individual or organisation from requiring a person to take HIV test as a precondition for employment.

    NAN

     

  • AHF wants FG to bridge gap on HIV/ AIDS services

    AHF wants FG to bridge gap on HIV/ AIDS services

    AIDS Healthcare Foundation ( AHF ) has urged the Federal government to bridge the HIV/ AIDS services gap through women empowerment and access to reproductive and healthcare services.

    Terri Ford, Chief of Global Policy, Advocacy for AHF, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday ahead of the 2018 International Women’s Day celebration on March 8.

    She said it would be a befitting honour to the courage and resilience of Nigerian women if the government empowered them by bridging the gaps of inequality and access to healthcare services.

    “The world cannot go on talking about the end of AIDS while HIV remains one of the leading causes of death among women, especially young women and girls in developing countries.

    “From the smallest community clinic, all the way to the national health programmes and at the international level we must keep the promise to women.

    “We must ensure they have access to HIV treatment, testing and prevention without long waiting times and without fear of intimidation and stigma,’’ Ford said.

    Also, Dr Greg Abiaziem, Acting Country Programmes Manager, AHF Nigeria, stressed the need for Nigerians to make conscious effort to ameliorate challenges that women faced in accessing quality healthcare.

    Abiaziem said the need to promote safer sexual conducts and women’s ability to negotiate safe sex and education to reduce transmission of HIV from mother to child must be structurally put in place.

    He said that efforts and resources must be invested into policies that had been proven to work globally, such as the HIV test and treatment policy as well as a comprehensive prevention strategy.

    The AHF Country Programmes Manager, quoting UNAIDS, said “a third (32 per cent) of all cases of mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in the world happened in Nigeria.

    “In 2016, just 32 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV in Nigeria received antiretroviral treatment.

    “According to WHO, almost 18 million women over the age of 15 make up over half of all adults living with HIV while women aged 15 to 24 account for 60 per cent of those infected in that age group.

    “HIV positive women in many countries are not afforded equal access to treatment and are often victims of discrimination and increased violence, including infringement upon their sexual and reproductive rights.

    “AHF calls on policy makers, organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to help narrow identified gaps and ensure women have unimpeded access to lifesaving HIV testing, prevention services and treatment,’’ Abiaziem said.

    AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest global AIDS organisation, currently providing medical care and services to over 872,000 clients in 39 countries.

    AHF Nigeria has been operating in the country since 2011 and has presence in six states.

    NAN

  • NiBUCAA takes HIV&AIDS advocacy to corporate organisations

    NiBUCAA takes HIV&AIDS advocacy to corporate organisations

    To eliminate HIV&AIDS by 2030 and support healthy living in workplaces, the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA) has visited Nestlé Nigeria Plc to seek its cooperation.

    Advocacy, one of the pillars of the coalition, is a strategy for reaching member-companies to enhance the implementation of health-based programmes that will boost workforce productivity in corporate organisations.

    NiBUCAA Executive Secretary  Gbenga Alabi, praised the organisation for its support to the coalition since 2004.

    He congratulated Mrs. Victoria N’dee Uwadoka on her appointment as Nestlé Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Manager.

    Mrs. Uwadoka then urged the coalition to redefine its focus on HIV and AIDS and other complementary health programmes.

    She said: “As a responsible corporate player, Nestlé Nigeria is committed to maintaining a healthy enabling environment for our workforce. We actively promote and support healthy living in line with our purpose, which is enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future.  We are open to explore areas of collaboration with the coalition where relevant to support our objectives.”

    In another development, NiBUCAA also  visited the head office of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company (Nig.) Limited and lauded the organisation’s support for the coalition, assuring that more value-driven programmes would be made available.

    “Over the years, Dantata & Sawoe has been very supportive to the goals of the coalition. With your support, we have carried out a couple of programmes centred on healthy lifestyles that have improved the effectiveness of employees in the workplace.

    “This year, we’re focusing on the facilitation of insightful programmes that will act as supplement to programmes in the workplace. The 90-90-90 global target set by Joint United Nations Programme on HIV&AIDS to eradicate the epidemic by 2020 will receive increased support. Commitments from member companies will make these programmes achievable,” Alabi said.

    Dantata & Sawoe Executive Director, Nasiru Dantata, affirmed the organisation’s continued partnership with NiBUCAA to bring health benefits to its workforce with sustainable enlightenment programmes and campaigns.

    Dantata said: “NiBUCAA has positively impacted its members with thoughtful, insightful campaigns and programmes to boost the quality of lives of workers in industries and organisations. We’ll continue to work assiduously with NiBUCAA to facilitate programmes that will better the lots of our workforce and improve their wellbeing.”

  • Dating Site for HIV/AIDS Patients Launched

    Dating Site for HIV/AIDS Patients Launched

    People living with HIV/AIDS deserve the right to love. No other day is perfect than today, February 14th, St. Valentines’ day, a day earmarked for the celebration in several climes round the world. Dennis Akagha, Team Lead for PLconnect has devoted his time to establishing a community where people living with HIV/AIDS meet and connect to build lasting relationships, psychological and social support systems. He has taken this initiative a notch higher to debut the No. 1 dating site specifically for people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Speaking with THE NATION, Dennis tells Joseph Olaoluwa more about the site and the numerous functions it carries out.

     

    What is the initiative behind the dating site?

    As young people living with HIV, growing their sexual behaviour and it’s implication on HIV prevention is of concern. “How will I ever find someone to love when I am HIV positive?” has always been the question asked by youths who are HIV positive in Nigeria.  Isolation and stigma; not to mention the challenges of facing on-going health concerns and navigating how and when to disclose ones status are major obstacles youths (of marriageable age) living with HIV/AIDS are facing and this leaves them unmarried until they find someone of the same status for purpose of marriage.

    Therefore PLconnect is a COMMUNITY where people living with HIV/AIDS meet and connect to build lasting relationships, psychological and social support systems. As a matter of fact, PLconnect is the No.1 dating site specifically for people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

    Why is it unique? What is extra from all dating sites?

    You can find our uniqueness in the exclusivity of PLconnect. We connect People living with HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to promote concordant relationship which we believe will stem the tide and reduce further spread of the virus. We are not only focused on them finding love, we are building a support system where persons living with HIV/AIDS have access to PL councillors to guild them through the journey.

    How does it work?

    People living with HIV/AIDS sign up on the platform and provide evidence that they are actually living with the virus. We verify their results then give them access to the features on the website.

    How friendly is this dating site?

    The Website is easy to understand and use. The UI is properly designed and easy to load.

    Read Also: Lagos records drop in HIV/AIDS cases


    Why did you decide to debut it today? Feb 14th?

    Today is the day of love. We are leaving no one behind and showing inclusiveness. People living with HIV/AIDS deserve the right to love.

    Debuting this site, does it make life easier for the participants? Despite the stigma attached?

    Yes, it makes life easier, Users of the platform are assured of their confidentially hence no stigma from the wider range of society. Life is more beautiful with love so they would have easier ways of finding love rather than living in silence and depression.

    Is this site exclusive to people affected by the stigma? Or other people can join to find spouses?

    There several social network websites devoted for different sets and categories of people. PLconnect is exclusively for people living with HIV/AIDS. We are not just offering a dating website, we are building a community where PLs will have the opportunity to also have relationship choices free of stigma and low self-esteem.  In fact, for someone to have access to all our unique features, we would have verified that such person is indeed living with HIV/AIDS.

    Does it allow pictures? Pictures are the selling point of a dating site.


    The platform allows pictures but it is exclusive only to verified users. Pictures are important to allow people have mental view of the ideal person they want to meet.

    How can I access the website if I am HIV positive and want to take advantage of the site?

    The website is www.plconnect.com.ng

  • Libya returnees test positive for HIV/AIDS

    Libya returnees test positive for HIV/AIDS

    Some Nigerians deported from Libya have tested positive for HIV/AIDS.

    Screening was carried out by Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA).

    Alarmed by the discovery, the state said it has begun the process of recalling Libya returnees to make them undergo HIV/AIDS screening.

    The Executive Officer of SACA, Mrs. Flora Oyakhilome, who addressed reporters while screening some returnees, said the government valued returnees’ health.

    She said anyone with the virus would be treated.

    Oyakhilome, who refused to disclose the number of those that tested positive for the virus, said screening was on.

    She said: “We are making arrangement to recall those who have been deported, to have them tested for HIV/AIDS. We have discussed with the commissioner for Women Affairs.

    “The woman said she is compiling the list so that they will have the data to know how to get these persons tested and integrated into the society.

    “We are here to look at the returnees from Libya to advise them and test them for HIV/AIDS. We feel their health is important, their lives are important. So, on that note, the government has said they should be brought here for screening so that they will enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

    “In achieving a healthy lifestyle, they must be whole. So on that note, we decided to come in so as to collaborate with the committee to have them tested. If we find out that anybody tests positive for HIV/AIDS, we will refer the person to general hospital.

    “We thank the government for this platform it has given us. We are still on. You can see that we are still working. We cannot disclose the number of those infected now because the work is still on.”