MRS Deborah Labari, chairperson of a non-governmental organization (Peace Ambassadors advocacy to protect the rights of children, women, orphans, and widows in Nigeria), has called on all Nigerians to reject all forms of stigma, discrimination, or differences among people living with the virus in the country as the world commemorates World International HIV/AIDS Day.
She made the statement in an interview with journalists in Kaduna to mark the world’s international Aids day at the press center.
According to her, despite all the efforts by both the state and federal governments, humanitarian NGOs and concerned civil societies in Nigeria, with faith-based organizations, should work towards raising more campaigns and awareness against the spread of the virus.
She noted that there are so many harmful effects associated with stigma and discrimination on people living with the virus, which include feelings of shame, hopelessness, and isolation.
Others include reluctance to ask for help or to get treatment, lack of understanding by family, friends, or others, fewer opportunities for employment or social interaction, bullying, physical violence; or harassment.
She stressed the need for all Nigerians to stop discriminating against people living with the virus simply because it has violated their rights.
While calling on Nigerians both at home and abroad to learn how to talk openly about HIV and stigma in a way that can help empower those living with HIV, she emphasized the need for couples to be tested medically before marriage to avoid having children with the virus.
“If each of us is committed to making positive changes in our families and communities, we can help end HIV stigmatization and work to stop HIV together.
There are many babies with the virus today, simply because parents refused to go for medical tests before marriage, while some hide their identity.
You can help challenge stigma by speaking up when you hear people around you make negative or wrong comments about mental illness or discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.
Similarly, some faith-based organizations in the country have embarked on visiting some schools in the metropolis to sensitize students about the dangers of stigma and religious ways to halt discriminating against people living with the virus.
Pastor Yohanna Buru, the national president of the Peace revival and reconciliation foundation of Nigerian said, every year, he organizes a team of volunteer -Muslims and Christian scholars to visit schools and sensitize the students on the harmful effects of stigma and discrimination against people living with all kinds of diseases including tropical diseases.
He said that all religions in the world have condemned all forms of stigma and discrimination against mankind, especially people living with HIV/AIDS, stressing that every sick person needs healing, not hatred or discrimination.
Buru, while on a visit to a Kaduna-based school, which is part of his annual visit to mark AIDS Day, called on religious leaders to redouble their efforts towards sensitizing the general public on religious guidelines towards tackling stigma, hatred, and discrimination against any person living with any kind of disease.
