By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
The Director of Advocacy, Policy and Marketing, AIDS Health Foundation (AHF)- Africa, Ms Kemi Gbadamosi, has called on the Federal Government to enforce the HIV anti-discrimination law aimed at upholding the dignity and right of persons living with HIV.
Speaking at a meeting organized by AHF in collaboration with National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) themed; “Nigeria HIV/AIDS Anti-discrimination law, the journey so far, at the twitter space”, she called on the office of the Attorney General of the federation and other stakeholders to rise to the occasion and ensure implementation of laws to protect the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS.
The Director stressed that part of the challenges have continued to occur because of the information that HIV was no more a threat, owing to availability of drugs.
“However, new cases of infection are still recorded especially among the younger generation who are still faced with stigma and discrimination both at school and their communities.
“Which could further leads to non-adherence of medication thereby affecting their viral load,” she said.
She emphasised the need to create more awareness on the rights of persons living with HIV through the media, social media platforms as well as engaging the grassroot.
Also Deputy Director and lead gender, human right and care services, NACA, Dr Yinka Falola-Anoemuah, said AHF has the capacity with its multi-sectorial platforms to address issues of stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV.
Falola-Anoemuah said that the platforms include various institutions such as human right commission, Law enforcement institutions, ministry of education, women affairs, among others .”
According to her, this platforms enables all the institutions deal with issues around stigma.
“NACA also have a multi-institutional platform for work place policies around HIV, which also addresses stigma and discrimination within the work place.”
While blaming persistence of discrimination on inaccessibility of relevant information about HIV/AIDS, she
called for collaboration of all to implement the law with stronger engagement among relevant stakeholders.
On his part, Mr Michael Okoh, Programme Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN) said that the Network in 2021 conducted HIV stigma and discrimination survey with over 1,240 respondents from the general and key population.
Okoh said the survey was conducted in 16 states including the FCT, where about 1 in 4 respondents said their status was disclosed without their consent.
This he said, caused the respondents several encounter of stigma and discrimination at their work places and homes.
Mr Rommy Mom, President Lawyers Alert, said that not much have been achieved in the implementation and enforcement of HIV anti-discrimination law in tbe country.
Mom said that the Attorney General’s office has done very little in ensuring that the law is enforced.
” Lack of enforcement of the law has been a motivation for people and institutions to stigmatize persons living with HIV.
“Both the public and private institutions are violating the laws because consequences are not meted out on violators.
“Laws are therefore not the issue, but the enforcement, issues exist and that is why the laws are passed, “He added.
Mr Steve Aborisade, Manager, Advocacy and Marketing, AHF, called for increased advocacy and creation of awareness among the general public and institutions through the media.
