”Hands on” towards achieving a HIV free generation

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AHF, Nigeria have said that the UN declaration of having only or less than half a million new HIV infections and half a million deaths globally by 2020 can be achieved if efforts are geared towards prevention and treatment. The foundation’s Abuja Clinical Coordinator Dr.  Kema Anthony Onu made this remark during […]

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AHF, Nigeria have said that the UN declaration of having only or less than half a million new HIV infections and half a million deaths globally by 2020 can be achieved if efforts are geared towards prevention and treatment.

The foundation’s Abuja Clinical Coordinator Dr.  Kema Anthony Onu made this remark during one of their outreaches to commemorate the World HIV/AIDS day.

Kema said that the UNAIDS theme "hands up for HIV prevention" 

NIgeria’s government "Hands on for HIV prevention" and AHF’s "Keep the promise" are all geared towards prevention.

He stressed that there is a need to eliminate stigma and discrimination while at the same time close the treatment gap "because in Nigeria we have over 3.5million people with HIV and just about 700,000 on drugs to  prevent new cases of HIV we need to close that gap."

He added that those who are positive should keep the promise by taking their meds,  the CSO’s should serve as watch dogs, the government should ensure stronger institutions, those negative should follow the rules of staying safe and countries concerned should keep the promise by increasing funds.

Christy Awunor who spoke for AHF nursing services  said we usef the mass HIV testing outreach which we did sumulteanedluy across various communities in Abuja to commemorate the world AIDS day and those who are positive we link them to care.

She added that quite a number of persons are coming out to know their status unlike the previous year.  she attributed this change to people becoming more aware.

The chairman of Kuje Area Council, who spoke through his Vice Hon. Dauda Tanko Ismaila one of the communities where AHF did their awareness, mass testing and linking to care campaign said that such campaigns are a welcome development.

He enjoined other health related NGO’s to take a cue from  AHF and not just concentrate their outreaches at the city centers but bring them down to the communities because these are the people that need it the most.