About
72,000 adolescents are living with HIV in Lagos State, Chief Executive Officer
of Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Oluseyi Temowo, has said.
Mr.
Temowo made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking in Lagos at a forum on
adolescents living with HIV.
An NGO,
Positive Action for Treatment, organised the forum in partnership with the AIDS
agency to mark 2016 World AIDS Day.
Mr.
Temowo urged the people to know their status early, added that drugs for HIV
could be obtained free in any government hospital in the state.
He
advised parents, guardians, healthcare givers and media to support the
government in its effort to stamp out the condition by engaging in massive
sensitisation of the public.
Also
speaking, Olufemi Onanuga, the Special Adviser to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode on
Primary Healthcare, said the state government would sanction any school or
organisation guilty of discriminating against HIV patients.
He also
warned members of members of public, employers and school owners against
stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS.
According
to him, the state government on will commence enforcement of legislation
prohibiting stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with HIV in the
state.
The
governor’s aide condemned a school for rusticating an adolescent girl on
account of living with HIV.
He said:
’’There is no need for discrimination. HIV is not a death sentence; anyone can
live with this condition, like any other diseases like hypertension, for the
rest of life.’’
“There is
legislation against discrimination, be it at work or school. No one should be
kicked out of school or work because of HIV.
“People
live well as long as they (the victims) take their drugs; we will commence
enforcement of the legislation against discrimination.
“As
policy makers, we would do everything possible to make sure that HIV is kicked
out of Lagos State and there won’t be discrimination for anyone.”
The Wife
of the Governor, Bolanle Ambode, appealed to policy makers across the country
for intervention programmes targeted at adolescents living with HIV and AIDS,
because of their strategic age bracket.
Ambode,
the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, urged LSACA and all relevant
government agencies to continue sensitising the public on the danger of
discriminating against people living with HIV and AIDS.
Francis
Umoh, Programme Manager, PATA said that the forum was conveyed to sensitise
policy makers and key stakeholders on sexual and reproductive health of
adolescents living with HIV.
Mr. Umoh
said the step became necessary to promote support for PATA’s intervention
programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of adolescents living with
HIV in the area.
He said
that PATA had established the Mary’s Home to cater for the psycho social and
Sexual Reproductive Health needs of vulnerable and indigent adolescent girls
living with HIV with no anywhere to stay.
The News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that the United Nations in 1988 declared Dec.
1 as the World AIDS Day.
The theme
for the 2016 global event is “Hands Up for HIV Prevention.”
The Day
is designed to honour AIDS victims and focus on issues surrounding HIV (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
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