HIV Epidemic is a deadly
disease if not treated, might lead to loss of life. Nigeria has the second
largest number of people living with HIV.
This epidemic varies widely and is common among young people between the
ages of 15-45 and more predominate among sex workers. Youth and young adults in
Nigeria are particularly vulnerable to HIV, with young women at higher risk
than young men. There are many risk factors that contribute to the spread of HIV
which includes prostitution, sharing of blades, high related sexually
transmitted diseases and a host of others.
Many years back, the federal
ministry of health stood its ground to fight the menace by establishing a
special department called national Action Committee on HIV/AIDS which also
mandated all the State Ministry of health to have state action committee on
HIV/AIDS to launch various advocacy on how to curb the spread. Late 2016, there
was vigorous campaign on use of condom to prevent HIV/AIDS and many non-governmental
organisation also joined in the advocacy.
Since then, activities on
HIV advocacy had been at its lowest ebb while departments saddled with the
responsibility have been idle for quite sometimes due to the government uncaring
attitude to curbing the menace.
In most countries of the
word, PrEP drug had been introduced as a pre and post drug in order to avoid
contracting HIV from sexual partners. In Nigeria, Prep is visible but with
small presence while there is still need for an operation scale up prep has
proposed by Tosin Adesile, founder of Africa Youth Circle and Current
Secretary, National Youth network on HIV/AIDS, Ogun State branch.
It is my opinion that
governments at all level will awake from its slumber and link up with
international partners to get Nigeria away from the second positions of countries
with the highest number of people with HIV and advance to safe health regions.
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