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Stakeholders advocate for a rise in consciousness to curb the unfold of HIV and hepatitis in Nigeria's Nasarawa State.


New Media Fellows 2013

ByJennifer Ehidiamen


Might 31, 2013

Additionally printed by HealthNewsNG and DisGeneration


A one-day consciousness marketing campaign on the dangers and realities of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis was held on Thursday at Enterprise Info and Coaching Centre (BITC), Lafia Nasarawa State.


In accordance with Mr. Adenitan Lawrence, the supervisor at BITC, the aim of this system was to create consciousness about Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS to employees, college students and purchasers of the group.


"We consider that after you're knowledgeable, you might be higher reworked," he says, "Not solely you however even your loved ones and different colleagues and members of the society, because the case could also be."


The occasion, which was a collaboration between BITC and the middle for Illness and Assist Management (CDAC) was aimed toward additionally creating an avenue for contributors to entry free voluntary HIV and Hepatitis counselling and testing.


Nasarawa state presently has one among the best HIV prevalence charge in Nigeria. In line with Nationwide Bureau of Statistics, whereas there have been three,083,004 individuals dwelling with HIV in Nigeria in 2007, Nasarawa state had a inhabitants of 106, 629 individuals dwelling with HIV. In 2012, theNigerian Journal of Fundamental and Clinical Sciencesreported that Nasarawa has a prevalence of 7.5% of HIV, which is larger than the typical nationwide prevalence of four.1%.


Dr. Gideon Ayuba, a consultant of CDAC factors out that illiteracy and religion are limitations hindering efforts to curb the unfold of HIV within the state.


"We perceive it [HIV] is rising very very quick and likewise the difficulty of Hepatitis can be rising," Ayuba says. Including that consciousness creation is a crucial device wanted to reverse the affect of the unfold of the virus.


In response to Ayuba, most individuals in Nasarawa state don't go for HIV take a look at due to their religious beliefs and tradition. People’s ignorance and poor literacy stage additionally hinders the AIDS response, he says.


Though free counselling and testing session was accessible throughout the consciousness marketing campaign program, not all of the members took benefit of it. Fatoyinbo Olasimbo, one of many contributors, says she didn't take any HIV check due to concern of the unknown.


"I’m not fascinated," she says. "I have by no means had HIV check and that i don’t have plans to."

Fatoyinbo, despite her unwillingness to know her HIV standing, advocates for extra consciousness creation.


"Although I didn't get the take a look at accomplished however at the very least I’m knowledgeable," she says, "People ought to come for this sort of program to get knowledgeable to know what is sweet for them."


One other participant, Joseph Omugu, says lack of consciousness is the main trigger of most associated deaths. He additionally believes an elevated consciousness on the difficulty of HIV and Hepatitis will scale back such incidences.


"By giving this consciousness, it goes to assist us rather a lot," he says.

He nonetheless disagrees with Fatoyinbo on the problem of HIV take a look at. "It is sweet for one to know his standing as a result of [by] figuring out your standing you'll take prevention," he says.


Omugu says his information about HIV and Hepatitis is improved on account of attending this system.

"This lecture goes to make me know my standing at this time," he says.


Early this 12 months, the Govt Governor of Nasarawa state, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, signedthe invoice prohibiting discrimination in opposition to folks dwelling with HIV/AIDSinto legislation. Stakeholders within the civil society sector imagine the motion will enhance efforts to curb the unfold of HIV.


"We perceive the stigmatization is worse than the virus itself," says Ayuba, "it kills quicker than the virus itself."


Ayuba says the anti-stigmatization regulation will make a whole lot of impression in Nasarawa state as a result of many individuals residing with HIV might be free to dwell their lives.


"They will be capable of stay their lives with out individuals stigmatizing them," he says.

He, nonetheless, famous that there was want for extra consciousness on what stigma is about to ensure that folks to grasp the relevance of the regulation on the grassroots.


Adenitan advises different Non-Governmental Organizations to maintain spreading the message to lift consciousness.


"I simply need to make use of this discussion board to name on different NGOs and different properly to do philanthropists in our society to maintain spending their cash to create extra consciousness."


He provides, "Keep sending the message, keep creating consciousness so that folks will know. We wish to unfold the data and never the virus."


An elevated consciousness can scale back the unfold of HIV and Hepatitis in Nasarawa state, he says.

Jennifer Ehidiamen is a 2013 New Media Fellow for the Worldwide Reporting Challenge. This report was made doable by a grant she obtained from the challenge to report on world well being and improvement in Nigeria.