Frontline Niger Delta environmental and human rights non-governmental organization, Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD has called for increased care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
In a press release to mark the 2022 World HIV/AIDS Day on December 1, the NGO raised concern that Nigeria is now the third highest affected country worldwide linking it to poor access to adequate care by persons with HIV/AIDS, especially those in rural areas.
“HIV/AIDs has remained one of Nigeria’s greatest health problems. Reports have shown that globally, Nigeria ranks third among countries with the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDs. Social risk behaviors promoting the risk of HIV infection are also still on the rise”, part of the release signed by Dr. Nabie Nubari Francis, head, Health and Community Development stated.
It called on government at all levels to declare a state of emergency across the country in the health sector to address the highly deplorable health state.
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Full text of the press release reads:
“As the World commemorates the 2022 WORLD AIDS DAY, the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, calls on governments in Nigeria at all levels to prioritize the welfare, care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and proffer measures that would reduce the burden of the disease.
Policies should be strengthened and the care for people living with HIV/AIDS prioritized. Concerted efforts should be made to increase access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The deplorable state of our health care system at the local communities is alarming, hence government should declare a state of emergency aimed at revitalizing the health care services.
“CEHRD, through her Health and Community Development Unit during the Organization’s tour OF HIV/AIDS sentinel sites in some parts of Rivers State, observed with grave concern the prolonged waiting time people living with HIV/AIDS suffer to access anti-retroviral therapy. This is condemnable as it is a testimony to lack of care and concern for the welfare and plights of people living with HIV/AIDS.
“The activities of key population (commercial sex workers, intravenous drug users, prisoners and ex-convicts, etc.) should be given serious attention.
CEHRD strongly advocates for voluntary counseling and testing, avoidance of high-risk behaviour, fairness and equity in the care for people living with HIV/AIDS.
“The Niger Delta region, being a hub of oil and gas activities, experiences a constant inflow of external prospectors. The gross unemployment and endemic poverty in the region, notwithstanding the active industrial activities, had resulted in high risk sexual behaviour among the teeming youth population. Against the back drop of poverty, illiteracy and ignorance, the burden of HIV/AIDS has remained an issue of concern. The gross inequality in socio-economic status and the threat of stigmatization have contributed to limited access to HIV/AIDS care, thereby increasing the burden.
“December 1, every year, being the World AIDS Day, brings to the mind of all, the reality of the threat and the burden of HIV/AIDS. The 2022 anniversary marks 35 years of sustained commemoration of the HIV/AIDs pandemic. It is a day the world unites to help end HIV and remember those lost to AIDs-related illnesses Theme for this year, “Putting ourselves to test, achieving equity to end HIV” is a call to direct the world to a major issue of concern in the battle to end HIV/AIDs.
“The global fight against AIDs is under threat. There have been an obvious overlapping crises including economic, humanitarian, and security threat to the sustained fight against AIDs. Over the last two years, there has been a paradigm shift in global focus and attention from HIV/AIDs to COVID-19 that almost brought the world to a fix. This shift in global attention resulted in devastating impact on people living with and affected by HIV and eventually brought low the global response to AIDS as well as a serious setback in HIV/AIDS services
THIS YEAR’S WORLD AIDS DAY is very strategic as it seeks to redirect world attention to the HIV/AIDS pandemic”.
Signed
Dr. Nabie Nubari Francis,
Head, Health and Community Development. 08032724075.
