WORLD AIDS DAY: MEDICAL EXPERTS CAUTION AGAINST STIGMATIZATION, ENCOURAGE PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT
REPORTER: SCHOLAR ABAGA
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark AIDS Day, some medical practitioners in Anambra State have identified public enlightenment through conventional and new media as well as research as key to eradication of AIDS in the country.
One of them and Provost, Anambra State College of Health Technology, Obosi, Dr. Daniel Ezeobi, told Radio Nigeria that awareness creation would make people understand the need to stop the spread of the virus.
Dr. Ezeobi called on the government to encourage researchers through sponsorship to end the menace of AIDS.
He advised HIV patients to take their drugs religiously as prescribed by medical doctors and maintain balanced diet at all times.
Another medical practitioner, Dr. Ben Amaeme, reiterated that AIDS could be spread through sex, blood transfusion, use of infected objects in saloons among other means.
Dr. Amaeme frowned at the stigmatization of infected persons, which he described as a silent killer.
He explained that without stigma and discrimination, patients could live their normal and full life.
For his part, Dr. Victor Omoja, urged people with the virus to avoid unprotected sex to avoid random spread of HIV in the society.
He advised Nigerians to check their status regularly while appealing to victims to take treatment and medication seriously.
The theme for 2023 theme is “Let communities lead.”
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
