By Hassan Zaggi
The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), has advised Nigerians to, as a matter of priority and urgency, go for HIV screening so as to know their status.
The General Secretary of NEPWHAN, Mr. Emmanuel Cliford, made the call while responding to questions from our Correspondent during a road walk organized by the group in Abuja, on Saturday.
The Road Walk, according to him, is to create awareness about the reality of HIV/AIDS and to let people know that if they eventually test positive, the drugs are available and free of charge.
While stressing that HIV test is free at all government health facilities, Mr. Clifford said: “The Road Walk is about the World Aids Day awareness creation which NEPWHAN is part of.
“We decided to choose today because it is a week-long activity to create awareness from the angle of NEPWHAN.
“The road walk show is to create awareness about the existence of HIV and the reality of it.
“We are using this opportunity to urge each and everyone that has not gone for HIV test to do same because the test is free and peradventure you are positive, the drugs are also free.”
He further explained that: “The theme for this World Aids Day is; Let the community lead.This, according to him, is talking about community leadership.
“Community in this context is speaking to not structural community, but about individuals. So, let each and everyone take the lead by speaking to the reality of HIV/AIDS and of course accessing the testing in any of the government health facility.”
On whether Nigeria is winning the war against HIV/AIDS, Mr. Clifford said: “Yes, we cannot run away from the fact that since when HIV was discovered in 1987, the level of awareness in Nigeria and globally is high. We are really winning the fight because more are going for the ACT and many more people who have known their status are going for their ORT drugs -the drug that fight the virus inside the blood stream of anybody that is tested positive. So, we are winning the war.”
He further applauded the federal government for its efforts, especially, through investment of huge resources for the fights against the disease in Nigeria.
“To the best of our knowledge, the government, especially, at the federal level is trying its best.
“From the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he set the pace by giving HIV drugs free to everyone that test positive. “
“After his tenure, his predecessors equally did the same in the fight against HIV, especially, in aspect of making the drugs free for everybody,” says the NEPWHAN National Secretary.
