Abuja – Dr Sylvia Adebayo, Country Director of Population Council (PC), on Thursday in Abuja, urged people living with HIV and AIDs (PLWHA), to claim their rights in schools and work places.
Adebayo made the call against the backdrop of increasing stigmatisation of PLWHA – a development which had seen many out of schools and jobs.
She stressed the need for government to tackle the issue by ensuring job availability and education.
Adebayo called for easy access to treatment for PLWHA.
HIV drugs, in addition to suppressing the viral load, also reduce the likelihood of transmission from infected person to another.
Adebayo said there was need for the adolescent and the youths to know their HIV status irrespective of their religion, and educational background, among others.
She also said that it was important to engage the adolescent and youth in every activities concerning sensitisation or creating awareness.
“Voices of the adolescent and youth must be heard and included in whatever we do because they know what they want.
“We need to make the work that we do adolescent-friendly and the health care providers to be adolescent and youth-friendly too.
“ Most services are not affordable and there is need for free services for adolescent and youth. We advocate that those that are HIV-positive have access to the drugs and care.’’
Adebayo urged those that are HIV negative to abstain from sex. She advised those that cannot abstain to use condoms, lubricants as well as stick to one partner.
Prof. John Idoko, the DG, NACA, said the issue of young people knowing about HIV is already out there through NGOs, agencies and the media.
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“The aim is to reach out to those who are in school and those who are not both in rural and urban areas.
“We have a study commission looking at analogy of HIV among the young people living with HIV/AIDS which will be launched soon.
“HIV/AIDS is a chronic condition not a death sentence; people living with HIV can live a long life if they take their drugs.
Idoko enjoined those living with HIV/AIDS to demand for their rights and kick against stigmatisation as stated in HIV Anti-stigmatisation Act.
Dr Otibho Obianwu, the Programme Coordinator of Population Council, said there was need for advocacy, and consistent engagement with government on adolescent and youth issues.
Obianwu said the population council was focused on improving policy responses to youth HIV/AIDS vulnerabilities; as well as keeping them at the forefront of HIV response and awareness.
She added that the population council aims to promote informed public dialogue on HIV/AIDS vulnerability among adolescent and youth between the ages of 15 to 24 years
She stressed the need for government to address sexual violence among young persons in Nigeria as well as mitigating the vulnerabilities of young people living with HIV.
She urged stakeholders, ministries, NGOs and government to help in building young people’s health, social and cognitive assets.
Obianwu stressed the need to engage the youth in dialogue.
Their participation, he said, was paramount in achieving the goal in HIV/AIDS awareness among vulnerable adolescent and the youths in Nigeria. (NAN)