Persons living with HIV in Nigeria have been urged to stand firm and resist all forms of stigma and discrimination against them.
The Network of People living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria and other stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, gave the charge in commemoration of the 2019 Zero Discrimination Day while asking them to fight against self-stigma in order to put an end to HIV related discrimination.
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS, says that people living with HIV continue to face various forms of stigma, discrimination, and violations of their rights and dignity, which are barriers to the efforts to scale up access to comprehensive care, treatment, and support.
Speaking on this year’s commemoration, which had as theme, Act to change laws that discriminate, a member, Board of Trustees, NEPHWAN, Dr. Pat Matimiola, said it was important to encourage those living in denial to come out from their shelves and live healthy lifestyles. He stated that though there was no country in the world that have achieved zero discrimination status, not accepting one’s HIV status remained the number one discriminatory factor.
To achieve a zero discrimination status , March 1 of every year has been set aside to secure support for PLWHA, and to end the discrimination inherent towards their condition.
Highlighting the urgent need to take action against all forms discrimination against PLWHA, NACA’s Director-General, Dr. Sani Aliyu, said, “Stigma and discrimination have become major stumbling blocks to HIV and AIDS mitigation programmes, as they discourage people from using HIV Counseling and Testing services and pose a barrier to accessing treatment.
“Widespread stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV adversely affect people’s willingness to undergo HIV test.
“And if people do not know their HIV status, the chances of those who are HIV-positive transmitting the infection to their partners
increase.”
For the Executive Director, UNAIDS, Dr. Michel Sidibe, “Everyone has the right to be treated with respect, to live free from discrimination, coercion and abuse.”
Sidibe warned that discrimination doesn’t just hurt individuals, it hurts everyone; whereas welcoming and embracing diversity in all its forms brings benefits
for all.
Experts say if stigma and discrimination are not addressed appropriately, it will result in more people acquiring HIV.
On his part, National Coordinator, NEPHWAN, Mr Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said it was important to empower people living with HIV in the country. He added that empowering them would make them useful and productive in their societies. He acknowledged efforts of the Federal Government, Global Fund, PEPFAR and other donor agencies committed in the fight
against HIV.
