Islamic group says stigma is still a concern for people living with HIV/AIDS

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Association of Muslim Intellectuals of Nigeria (AMIN) has harped on the need for religious and political leaders to disseminate accurate information and awareness in a bid to sensitize people against the stigma and discrimination of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) /Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
The National President of AMIN Alhaji Auwal Junaid asserted this during a Community sensitization on HIV /AIDS and prevention of Mother to Child transmission held in Kaduna yesterday.
Alhaji Junaid said that the HIV/AIDS response required a multi-sectorial approach because even though the health sector is very essential to the cause, the non-health, sector is equally as important, hence, the need for the meeting.
. In her remarks, the National President Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV /AIDS (NINERELA) Aisha Usman warned against the danger that stigmatization and discrimination against people living with HIV pose to Nigeria meeting the global goal of ending the HIV scourge.
According to her stigmatisation and discrimination would discourage people from going for an HIV test and result in more people acquiring the virus.
“Widespread stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV adversely affect people’s willingness to take an HIV test. If people do not know their HIV status, the chances of those who are HIV positive transmitting the infection to their partners increases”, Mr. Aliyu stated.
“People living with HIV continue to face various forms of stigmatization, discrimination, and violations of their rights and dignity, which are barriers to the efforts to scale up access to comprehensive care, treatment, and support.
Similarly, a lecturer at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka Kaduna, explained that people with the disease can live a normal and healthy life if the antiretroviral therapy is regular and appointments with their doctors are not missed.