Fear! – a vicious cycle:
Fear! – a vicious cycle Fear! Rejection Stigmatization
Explosive epidemic:
Explosive epidemic HIV and AIDS Disease burden in Africa!!
HIV Stigma in Nigeria:
HIV Stigma in Nigeria Like elsewhere in the world
Estimated infected persons: 3 million
Tested: about 500,000
Registered with support groups: 50,000
There is a hidden disease burden!
Big Q – How can we reach UA if the epidemic remains hidden??
Tackling Stigma:
Tackling Stigma PLWA role
Break silence
Strong in the face of stigma
The community
Continuous enlightenment
Political commitment
Legislation
NEPWHAN key activities:
NEPWHAN key activities Sensitization
National
Support group levels
Outreach activities
Rallies
Community dialogue
Identifying MARPs
Stigma reduction
Our government responded:
Our government responded National policy developed
Anti-stigma bill initiated
NACA, CSOs, FMJ, NDI, HRC, etc.
The effort faltered and had to be resuscitated mainly by CSOs – NEPWHAN
We noted with regret the very pathetic and tokenistic involvement of CSO in WAD
WAD 2006:
WAD 2006 Break from the usual poor involvement
CiSHAN, NEPWHAN, PTAP, ASWAN and others
WAD rally to the parliament
Gained entry to the National Assembly
The Presidency decided to wade in to the problem
It has now been passed back to NASS
The Bill and UA:
The Bill and UA Universal Access means reaching more people
We are to set ambitious targets
The Abuja meeting as prelude to UN high level meeting in NY
African CSO coalition
If stigma is not minimized, UA is threatened!
Thanks:
Thanks