HIV: stigmatization and its enormous set back

This is a testimony of an 18 year old who spoke to Daily Trust under anonymity during one of the numerous events organized by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).Another person living with the virus Emmanuel Lawson, hides from the television cameras, then finally pleaded that his identity should not be revealed, […]

This is a testimony of an 18 year old who spoke to Daily Trust under anonymity during one of the numerous events organized by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).
Another person living with the virus Emmanuel Lawson, hides from the television cameras, then finally pleaded that his identity should not be revealed, for fear of stigmatization.
Many stakeholders in the health sector, especially persons living with the virus, have pleaded with the government to sign the anti-stigma and discrimination bill into law, to safeguard the lives of persons living with the virus.
The Director General of NACA, Professor John Idoko has said the stigma bill is an integral tool if the country intends to see improvement in the war against the Human Immune Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
 His words, “If discrimination and stigmatization is wiped out among the populace, most people will feel free to come out and access care.”
Speaking at the Mambilla Barracks’ Officers Mess recently venue of the flag- off of the HIV counseling and testing, to commemorate the World AIDs Day 2014, Professor John Idoko, said there is a lot of progress in the fight against AIDs globally, including Nigeria which hope that  AIDS will end by 2030.
According to him focusing on elimination of stigmatization is “very important” because of its drawbacks against the fight against the pandemic.
His fears about stigmatization drawing back the gains of the fight of HIV/AIDS if not addressed is shared by many who work in the field of HIV/AIDS, “ because people are scared to access services such as   HIV counseling and testing, come openly to access drugs and other medication, among others”.
Perhaps this is why the country theme for this year’s World AIDS celebration is, “Close the gap: No to stigma and discrimination”.
The president of Network of People With HIV/AID in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Edward Ogenyi speaking during a press briefing to launch the elimination of mother to child transmission, said that one of the greatest challenges of the programme is that stigmatization and discrimination has not been addressed so people still hide their status.
Edward Ogenyi said, “As long as the bill is not assented to by Mr president our members will continue to die because they don’t want to be stigmatized, and many are still dying”.
“The National Assembly has passed it, all we are asking is that the President assents to it”.
The theme as explained by Idoko,  “Closing the gap” means empowering and enabling all people, everywhere, to access the services they need. In Nigeria, this will ultimately involve: closing the stigma and discrimination gap through guaranteeing the respect and dignity of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, so that all concerned can be part of the solution to the HIV/AIDS challenge”.
Closing the gap would also mean, close HIV testing gap through testing 80 million Nigerians by the end of 2015, so that those who are HIV positive can know their status and begin to get support.
He also reasoned that the theme would close the treatment gap through ensuring that, by 2020, 90 percent of all people living with HIV in Nigeria know their status, 90 percent of all people diagnosed with HIV infection receive sustained antiretroviral treatment, and 90 percent of people receiving antiretroviral therapy achieve viral suppression.  
However the US embassy to also commemorate the World AIDS day, has as its theme, “Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-Free Generation.” The US Charge d’Affaires, Maria Brewer said the celebration will enable them review the successes of the PEPFAR programme in Nigeria.
Maria Brewer noted that since 2004, the US government has expended over N560 billion in Nigeria and that the funding is not likely to reduce, but that the embassy would likely review some of its strategies in Nigeria.
To achieve an AIDS free generation the embassy intends to focus its attension on the youths, Brewer said, “Young people represent 40 percent of all new HIV infections, meaning 890,000 young people are infected every year, or nearly 2,500 every day, according to the latest data from UNAIDS.  
“The family, social, cultural, and institutional settings in which youth live profoundly influence their behaviors.  Close interactions with parents and other adult role models, regular school attendance, and supportive societal norms are factors that are associated with positive youth behaviors.  The importance of such family-level interactions is the thrust of the US Mission Nigeria World AIDS Day 2014 Observance”.
But for young people like Hannah having access to their drugs and also having family and friends support would make a great difference in winning the fight against AIDS.   
Giving a review of the statistics of the virus in Nigeria, the Regional Director of the WHO, Dr Luis Sambo said, “Sub-Saharan Africa, the area hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic worldwide, is home to nearly 25 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Nine out of ten of all children living with HIV/AIDS in the world are found in sub-Saharan Africa.
The negative impact of HIV/AIDS is evident as it affects every sphere of life. As parents and workers succumb to HIV-related diseases, the structures and division of labour in households and communities are disrupted and daily lives are affected, with women bearing much of the brunt.
“The anticipated signing of the Anti-Stigma law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will help more Nigerians to seek testing, treatment and care services without fear of facing stigma and discrimination”, Idoko said
Dr. Bilali Camara, UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria and UNAIDS Focal Point for ECOWAS, also said, “The signing of the Anti-Stigma Bill into law is a landmark in the efforts to end the AIDS epidemic. It is a symbol of renewed hope that Nigeria shall be able to achieve the ambitious 90-90-90 treatment targets meant to ensure, by 2020, 90 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 90 percent who are HIV positive are placed on treatment, and 90 percent of those on treatment manage to suppress the virus.”