Abia State House of Assembly has promised to come up with laws that will prohibit all manner of stigmatisation against persons living with HIV/AIDS in the society.
The Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Right Hon. Chinedum Orji, stated this on Wednesday during the official unveiling of the book ” Surmounting Stigmatization in the Campaign Against HIV/AIDS”, held at Micheal Okpara Auditorium, authored by Comrade Ugochukwu Nwankwo who doubles as the publisher Abia Pulse and President Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), Abia Chapter.
Represented by the member representing Obingwa East State Constituency, Chief Thomas Nkoro, the speaker said apart from domesticating laws against persons living with HIV/AIDS among others, the House will also appropriate fund for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
On her part, the wife of the Abia State Governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu called on the Abia State House of Assembly to pass a Bill on stigmatization against those living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
Deaconess Ikpeazu enjoined the youth to avail themselves the opportunity of knowing their HIV/AIDS status, calling for concerted effort by all in the search for permanent cure to the dreaded disease.
In his opening address, the Chairman of the occasion and the Secretary to the Abia State government, Bar. Chris Ezem, said the book ” Surmounting Stigmatization in the Campaign Against HIV/AIDS”, could not have come at the right time except now that the virus has become endemic, pointing out that abstinence in unprotected sex and carefulness remains the best option.
In his keynote lecture, tagged ” HIV/AIDS and Stigmatization- An Overview”, the project Manager, Abia State Agency for the Control of Aids, Dr Eme Ajike noted that discrimination is one major driver of the epidemics, pointing out that discrimination of any sort is forbidden under Nigeria law as driven by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.
He said it is a wrong notion to assume that persons living with HIV/AIDS are promiscuous, noting that there are many ways of contracting the virus just as he called for increased public awareness, adequate community based intervention among others.
Contributing, the Vice President, Vicar Hope Foundation, Edith Nwosu represented by the Chief Press Secretary to the Wife of the Governor, Mr Chika Ojiegbe said it is expected that the 7th Abia House will give the campaign legislative backing by domesticating a law prohibiting all forms of stigmatisation against persons living with HIV/AIDS
On his part, the author of the book, Comrade Ugochukwu Nwankwo, thanked everyone who made it possible, saying that the idea of coming up with the book was conceived years back, adding that the stigma against persons living with HIV/AIDS and other ailments is unbearable.
Meanwhile, reviewing the six chapter book, the reviewer and the Director General Abia State Mass Mobilisation Agency, Mr. Pardy Anyatonwu commended the efforts of the writter, recommending that religious and traditional rulers should join the campaign against HIV/AIDS.
Source: NewsBuka
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