The Abia State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ABSACA) has advised churches, religious groups, and employers not to treat people living with HIV badly. Everyone should be treated with kindness and respect.
On Wednesday, Dr. Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu, the Director General of ABSACA, talked about this important issue in Umuahia. She spoke at a meeting where she met with the media to discuss new ways to prevent HIV.
Dr. Emma-Ukaegbu mentioned that treating people badly because of their HIV status makes it harder to stop the spread of the disease. She said her office is working with different groups like the government, religious leaders, communities, and schools to correct wrong ideas about HIV.
She shared that, according to a 2018 national survey, 2.1% of people in Abia State have HIV. Most of these people are between 15 and 64 years old.
In Abia State, the Ukwa East area has the highest number of HIV cases with 2.48%. Other areas with high numbers are Ikwuano (2.38%) and Obingwa (2.29%).
On the other hand, some areas have fewer cases. These areas include Umuahia North (1.17%), Ohafia (1.25%), Bende (1.28%), and Isuikwuato (1.28%).
Dr. Emma-Ukaegbu asked the media to help spread the message about preventing HIV and encouraged people with HIV to keep taking their medicine. Stopping medication can make the illness stronger.
She also mentioned the need for a national policy to start making HIV treatment drugs in Nigeria. There are ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of HIV from mothers to their babies in Abia.
Other ABSACA members, Mrs. Ekeoma Akidi and Munachi Aguomba, talked about how some media and communities call people with HIV hurtful names and even ask for teachers with HIV to be moved to different schools. They said these harmful practices should stop.