… says 97% of people still stigmatize and discriminate
By: Admin
Various civil societies on HIV/AIDS as well as NGO’s
under the aegis of Civil society on
HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN), Ogun State Chapter have unanimously decried the
nonchalant attitude of Ogun state government towards the prevention of the
disease in the state.
CISHAN alleged that the state government by its
refusal to provide adequate funding for the prevention and treatment of the
disease has contributed to its spread.
The allegation was contained in a statement read by
the group’s state secretary, Mr. Olugbenga Odukoya in a Press briefing held in
Abeokuta.
The Press briefing, which was part of activities
assembled for the commemoration of World AIDS day, was attended by
representative of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
Odukoya disclosed that the passing into law of the
Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OGSACA) has no effect in the combat
of HIV/AIDS as the agency is yet to carry out its mandate.
The infected persons confirmed that the government of
Ogun state has refused to provide sufficient funding to prevent the spread of
HIV/AIDS in the state, saying funding is donor dependent.
The statement reads in part, “Nigeria is the second
most burdened country after South Africa. Nigeria (the largest economy in
Africa) has more than 3.2 million people with HIV and contributes less than 25%
funding for its response
“The situation is far worse in Ogun State. More than
98% of HIV intervention funding is donor dependent.
“This is clearly not sustainable and is evident now
that the International Donors are leaving due to domestic and global financial
constraints.”
The state coordinator of CISHAN, Akinpelu Akintayo
criticized the government for what he termed “shabby commemoration of the World
AIDS Day” in the state.
He said, “Before now we used to address the press
together, I don’t know why they chose to sideline us this time.”
Akintayo claimed that the provision of treatment for
persons infected with HIV has become expensive, since the international donors
had departed the state “due to global financial crisis.”
“At the inception of the Donor-dependent HIV treatment
care and support Programmes in the state, Laboratory Services necessary for
administration of the Anti Retro Viral Drugs (ARV) were free for People living
with HIV.
“This made accessibility and affordability of the
treatment open to a large percentage of our people and prevented the death of
thousands of Ogun Citizens.
“Nigerian government and by extension Ogun Ogun State
government, sined agreementsto take over these services at the expiration of
the Donor Programmes. This has not been done and it has left the health
facilities with no option but to charge PLHIV for these services.”
The State Coordinator, Network of People living with
HIV in Nigeria (NEPWAN), Ogun state Chapter, Mrs Matin Bukola who lent her
voice at the press briefing alleged that the infection is on the increase has
government has refused to fulfill its part of the agreement.
She also disclosed that virtually all public hospitals
do not have testing kit and drugs for HIV patients.
She said, “People are ready to know their status but
no kit; when there are kits, no one to test them; most times no drugs to give
them.”
Mrs. Bukola who is HIV positive urged the government
to endeavor to fulfill its part when in partnership as the agencies are often
discouraged by government’s noncompliance.
Stigmatization and Discrimination of People Living
with HIV
The groups decried the stigmatization suffered by HIV
infected persons, saying that only 3% of Ogun state populations do not
stigmatize against infected persons.
Mr. Akinpelu when speaking about the stigmatization
said, “Despite the level of education and exposure, people still have negative
orientation about persons living with HIV.
“People living with HIV are not special beings, they
would still continue to have sex, to have boyfriends and girlfriends.
“Remember we do a lot of partnering; my girlfriend is
your girlfriend; your girlfriend is another’s sex mate. The implication is that
if you don’t provide adequate treatmen, the disease will continue to spread.”
Mrs Bukola on her part said she is less concerned
about the stigma, saying she has submitted to fate and taken the disease as her
own cross.
The groups lament that “the stigma law has not been
assented and gazette, despite various effort put in place to ensure the passage
of the bill.”
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