By Vivian Emoni
Abuja – Dr Chales Imogie, an Anti-Retroviral Therapy Clinician with Anglican Hospital, Kubwa, FCT, has advised Nigerians against stigmatising people living with HIV/AIDS to improve the management of the disease.
Imogie gave the advice in Abuja on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He opined that increase in the stigmatisation and discrimination had negatively affected the treatment of the dreaded disease in the country.
He said that people living with the HIV/AIDS are not bold enough to identify with their dilemma as well as having the courage to treat themselves effectively.
He added that the hospital was involved in the treatment of people living with scourge thereby supporting the government in the provision of the healthcare delivery to the citizenry.
He noted that the vision of the hospital was to evangelise for the Church and to ensure that the health care provided was made for those who could not afford the high cost of private hospitals.
“We do free HIV/AIDS test and free medical treatment for other illness, as part of our activities and contributions to the society.
“We are also committed to increasing awareness to Nigerians against stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS.
“The essence of the sensitisation is to educate Nigerians that people living with HIV/AIDS are not ghost or evil people rather they should embrace them with love and care.
“We also reach out to people explaining to them the importance of taking good care of their health.
“We tell people the negative effect of stigmatisation and discrimination among people living with HIV/AIDS,’’ he said.
He urged the Federal Government to internalise the “Vision 90-90-90’’ targets and improve on how the scourge could be managed.
According to him, the vision targets might not be achieved as long as stigmatisation and discrimination keep recurring in our various environments.
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