YAM, PPFN sensitise residents on HIV/AIDS stigma
By Damilola Kushimo
In commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day, the Lagos State chapter of Youth Action Movement of Nigeria (YAM) in partnership with Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) has staged a road show to enlighten the residents on HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation.
The bodies walked across several communities in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), creating awareness about the deadly virus and the need to shun stigmatisation.
According to the State Coordinator of YAM, Omolaja Okesola, people living with the virus need to be shown love rather than being stigmatised.
He explained that in tandem with the 2020 World AIDS Day “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact,” the NGO and its partner were playing their part in creating solidarity among people who live with the virus and further try to ensure that stigmatisation against them is discouraged in the community.
“We’ve come out to canvass for the eradication of HIV and AIDS globally and to reduce the risk of contacting it by creating enough awareness and sensitisation about the disease. It is an annual event and the ultimate goal is to see to the end of the epidemic in our country as a whole, starting from our community,” he stated.
Also speaking, the State Chairperson of PPFN, Comr. Olumide Ojetunde, emphasised that government and other NGOs need to further complement the efforts in order to totally eradicate the virus in the society.
He noted that since the virus was discovered in 1988 there has been a lot of stigmatisation against those who live with it which has not helped in eradicating the virus.
“We need to accept those who live with the virus because that’s not the end of life for them. We need to show them more love and also pass the awareness around. People can have the virus and still live a normal life. We need to stop the stigmatisation. They need us. I’ll advise other NGOs and government to do more in regards to this course to ensure that the risk of contacting it is further reduced and our society becomes HIV and AIDS free.”
