The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) on Thursday in Abuja called for an end to inequality and discrimination to berth an HIV-free Nigeria.
National Secretary of the network, Mr Clifford Emmanuel, made the call at a news conference to commemorate the 2021 World AIDS Day.
“Discrimination has adverse consequences on violation of rights.
“We must address the challenges of HIV if we must advance to the next level as well as strengthen our health system,’’ he said.
He stressed that inequality and discrimination were capable of denying people of access to treatment and care.
At the news conference, Dr Greg Ashefor, who represented Dr Gambo Aliyu, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) said the number of people on treatment had increased from 900,000 to 1.6 million.
He emphasised the need for testing to ascertain peoples’ status for treatment.
He assured NEPWHAN of the agency’s continued support and collaboration to end HIV by the year 2030.
According to Ashefor, ending inequality is ending HIV and there is need for collaboration to end it.
Dr Erasmus Morah, Country Director, UN Joint Action on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in his message, expressed the determination of the UN to support NEPWHAN to end HIV.
He was represented by Mr Gabriel Undelikwo, a UNAIDS official who said that inequality had continued to frustrate the aim of ending HIV by 2030.
Undelikwo called for synergy to end inequality and discrimination to totally end HIV by 2030.
“Inequality is reflected when we have people who are supposed to be on treatment but are not,’’ he said.
In her remarks, Ms Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Executive Director, YouthRise Nigeria said inequality had exaggerated HIV and AIDS.
Okechukwu urged the leaders and followers to join hands in ending inequality and discrimination.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the candle light memorial is annual event meant to remember those who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS.
The theme of the 2021 World Aids Day is: “End inequality: End AIDS.’’
