By Aliyu DANLADI
A national advocacy campaign on HIV/AIDS says it is targeting over 30,000 persons across multiple communities in eight high risk states in Nigeria from Nov. 30.
The campaign, organised by the Red Ribbon Coalition comprising Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), Society for Family Health (SFH), Development Communications Network and convened by Coca-Cola Nigeria is part of activities to mark 2018 World AIDS Day.
The Nigeria Red Ribbon, a group of NGOs, business concerns and private sector players, was inaugurated in 2015 to contribute its quota to the National AIDS Response.
The theme for 2018 World AIDS day, which is commemorated annually on Nov. 30, has its theme as: “Know Your Status”.
At a news conference on Friday in Lagos, Mrs Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, the Executive Director, Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), said there was need to intensify advocacy and campaign against HIV, especially to teenagers and young adults.
“This will enlighten them on the need to know their status, how to be guided if positive, how to reduce viral load and reduce high risk behaviour so as not to get the virus.
“On this year’s event, the coalition targets over 30,000 people across eight sites nationwide.
“HIV infection has spread over the last 32 years in Africa since it was first discovered and has continued to have a great impact on health, welfare and employment, affecting all social and ethnic groups throughout the world.’’
She said: “It is estimated that about 3,229,757 people living with HIV in Nigeria and about 220,393 new HIV infections occurred in 2013 and 210,031 died from AIDS-related cases.
“HIV prevalence among adults in Nigeria is relatively low (3.2 per cent), yet Nigeria is an enormous country where HIV infection remains an issue that demands a systematic and highly tailored intervention.
“As of 2012 in Nigeria, the HIV prevalence rate among adults ages 15–49 was 3.1 per cent; Nigeria has the second-largest burden of HIV globally.
“The HIV epidemic in Nigeria is complex and varies widely by region.
“Nine per cent of all PLWHA globally live in Nigeria with the country accounting for about 3.2 million people living with HIV.
“There are also 220,000 new HIV infection and about 210,000 AIDS-related deaths (14 per cent of the global total), hence the need to intensify awareness and treatment,’’ Akin-Jimoh said.
Also, Funke Adewoyin of SFH said: “The number of people estimated to be receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) was 747,382 with 3.0 million adult populations estimated to be living with the disease as of 2014.
“Albeit due to its population size, Nigeria has the second largest HIV disease burden in the world, with 3.2 million people living with HIV.
“This is after South Africa which has 6.8 million burden of the disease though prevalence is stable at 3.4 per cent, according to the (National HIV/AIDS Reproductive Health Survey 2012.
“This year’s advocacy campaign by the coalition targets multiple communities across eight high-risk states in Nigeria through a combination of activities.
“The activities include media awareness, voluntary counselling and testing, public education and awareness sessions, and entertainment using drama and football.
“The target for this year is to reach from 30,000 to 40,000 people across eight sites including Lagos, Oyo, FCT Abuja, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Gombe and Kano,’’ she said.
Inaugurated in 2015, the past projects by the coalition have brought together leading stars in Nigeria’s football, music, comedy, and movie industry to work together as advocates for the fight against HIV.
“Activities to commemorate the World AIDS Day campaign include HIV counselling and testing at Ajah, Lagos, by counsellor testers of the Society for Health (SFH).
“There will be a 2-week long voluntary counselling and testing session which begins on Friday, Nov. 30 and ends Dec. 15 and a Novelty Match to close out the event,’’ Adewoyin said.
The World AIDS Day is a day globally set aside to provide an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
