The Initiative for Grassroot Advancement INGRA in Nigeria has appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to sign into law an HIV Anti-stigma bill which was recently passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The Executive Director of INGRA, Hamza Aliyu made the appeal on Thursday in Lokoja at a media round table on advancing the HIV Anti-stigma bill and addressing issues around HIV stigma reduction.
DAILY POST recalls that the Kogi State House of Assembly on 19th June 2024 passed into law the bill to provide for the prevention of HIV and AIDs based discrimination and protection of the rights and dignity of people living and affected by HIV and AIDs.
Aliyu explained that the purpose of this proposed law is to protect the rights and dignity of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS; and eliminate all forms of discrimination based on their health status.
Aliyu asked Governor Ododo to sign the bill into law to create a supportive environment for people living with HIV and AIDS to work under normal conditions for as long as they are medically fit to do so.
“When signed into law, it will promote appropriate and effective ways of managing HIV in the workplace, community, institutions and other fields of human endeavour. Create a safe and enabling working and learning environment for all people living with and affected by the disease HIV and AIDS.
“It will also create a balance between the rights and responsibilities of all persons in the society; and give effect to human rights guaranteed in Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, and obligations under international and regional human rights and other instruments”.
He opined that the rationale behind the proposed law is a lack of understanding about the virus and how it spreads, which results in discrimination against those infected with HIV and AIDS.
Continuing he said, “Other rationales behind the proposed law is “Lack of information and awareness, combined with outdated beliefs, lead people to fear getting HIV, and the thought that only certain groups of people get the dreaded disease thereby attaching negative value judgements about the people who are accordingly infected and affected.
“The disease itself has challenged the sense of well-being, complicated the existence, in most cases, with mental health conditions, as well as affected the nervous system of those living with and affected by it. People living with HIV are discriminated against, their rights denied and, regrettably, this has also contributed to an increase in suicide and poor treatment outcome”.
