As the country grapples with the problem of stigmatization against HIV/AIDS patients, the Rivers State government has concluded arrangements to pass a law prohibiting stigmatization of HIV/AIDS Patients in the state. This was disclosed over the weekend by the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwane in an address at a one day sensitization workshop on the need to end stigmatization against HIV/AIDS patients. The event was organized by the Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS(RIVSACA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists( NUJ) and the Deputy Speaker, Hon Leyii Kwane. According to the lawmaker, the State Assembly is interested in the campaign against any form of stigmatization against persons living with HIV/AIDS and their wellbeing, hence the proposed law. He assured that before the second quarter of 2013 the law would have been passed.
In his remarks at the event, Dr Sunny Chineye of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital(UPTH) expressed happiness on the awareness program, pointing out that HIV/AIDS treatment prolongs life, hence the need for the enlightenment. He frowned at some pastors who discourage HIV/AIDS patients from medication and urged everybody to embrace the awareness program.
The NUJ state chairman, Mr Opaka Dokubo in his address lamented that the state government has not done enough in funding RIVSACA. According to him, it is not enough to set up an agency, but to ensure that it is financed. The NUJ Boss also took a swipe on the legislature for not enacting laws to protect HIV/AIDS patients. Dukubo charged the media to show more commitment in the fight to eliminate stigmatization against HIV/ AIDS victims, noting that the workshop was to spur us to more action.
Earlier in his opening remarks and presentation the Executive Director of RIVSACA, Dr Chris Okeh had said that about 3.11 million persons have been infected by HIV/AIDS since its inception in Nigeria, leaving about 3 million persons dead. Dr Okeh said 300,000 cases of new infections are recorded annually, while 2.23 million children are being made orphans by the disease. He said the story is not different in Rivers State, as about 180,000 adults and 17,000 children have been infected . The RIVSACA Director said this has left the agency with the burden of procuring Anti Retroviral Drugs(ART) for over 80,500 HIV/AIDS patients ,stressing that the priority of his agency is to prevent new infections.
Barth Ndu
