End stigmatization against people living with HIV – JAAIDS Executive Director advises

By Ezinne Alozie

Stigma has remained the major challenge for people living with HIV, (PLHIV) and sometimes the images the media portray in the reportage of HIV stories continues to drive the stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV (PLHIV), especially in the use of language.

This was revealed by the Executive Director, Journalists Against Aids Nigeria (JAAIDS), Olayide Akanni to newsmen in Lagos during a HIV training for Journalists across Nigeria, on the need to revisit HIV stories and as well curb the stigmatization been painted.

Olayide who noted that HIV is no longer a death sentence, reiterated the need to use the appropriate language in passing the message to the general public.

She stressed that HIV is not over in Nigeria, and that there is a dimension to the infections, where there is a growing prevalence in young people, especially the Mother to child transmission and moreso, a lot of gaps in HIV response that needs to be fixed.

Olayide urged Journalists across boards to continue the culture of information, particularly on our young people who think HIV is not a big deal.

She added that there is the agenda of the 95-95-95 target ongoing, to eradicate HIV in Nigeria. “Among the 2 million people estimated living with HIV, 95% knowing their status, 95% will be on treatment, and 95% virally suppressed” says Olayide.

She however buttressed that the reportage of HIV stories should not only be on World Aids day, but people should be aware that HIV is not the way it is assumed to be, and that people living with HIV can live at a very good old age, if detected early, begins treatment to suppress the virus.