Yuletide: Foundation fetes people living with HIV/AIDS, less privilege

By Stanley Onyekwere

In the spirit of the Yuletide season, a non government organization, Al-Muhibbah foundation, has doled out gift items to some people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and the less privilege in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Among the items distributed to the beneficiaries included several bags of rice, cartoons of beverages, detergents and disinfectants.

While distributing the items in Life Camp, the Founder of the NGO and FCT Minister’s wife, , Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, who expressed worried by the lack of care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, appealed to wealthy Nigerians to always donate generously to vulnerable groups.

She noted that most of the victims of the HIV/AIDS did not know how they contacted it, while some got it through child birth due to the Ignorance of their parents.

According to her, some were infested by the virus through the use of unhygienic instruments in the hospitals and others got it through unprotected sexual intercourse, adding that members of public should avoid all forms of discrimination against the victims.

“The task of caring, supporting and assisting those living with this virus and the less privileged in the society must not be left for government alone.

 “It should be collective effort from both the rich and the privileged in our society to assist this category of people,” Mohammed stressed.

She therefore called on traditional rulers, religious leaders to join in the campaign to sensitize members of the public on the need to avoid multiple sex partners and other vices that could expose them to contacting the dreaded disease.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Programme Director of the foundation, Hajiya Ladi Ibrahim, said the organization has brought succour to several less privilege in the society.

She disclosed that the foundation through its poverty alleviation programme has provided several skills for women in the FCT.

She explained that some women who have acquired skills were provided with kits to enhance the skills they have acquired.

Ibrahim, also said that the foundation have bought ambulances for some communities to carry patients to the medical facilities in the city centre for emergency treatment.

Responding, one of the persons living with HIV/AIS, Miss Gloria Asuquo, commended the FCT minister’s wife for the bold step taken to put a smile on the faces of those suffering from the virus in the FCT.

The gesture according to her, has shown that founder is a true emancipator of the down trodden in the FCT and the country at large.