The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Prescilla Otti, says plans are underway to collaborate with key stakeholders to domesticate laws prohibiting the discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS in Abia State.
The Abia First Lady, who stated this during a meeting with the Abia Chapters of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and the Key Population (KP) group at her Nvosi residence in Isiala Ngwa South LGA, expressed her resolve to combat the stigma to give hope to affected individuals.
According to her, HIV is not a death sentence and those affected should embrace treatment and neglect societal judgment about the disease. She reaffirmed her commitment to improving the lives of those living with the virus through advocacy, support, and empowerment.
“I am encouraged by the progress we are making to suppress the spread of the disease, but we must do more to prevent new infections and ensure a stigma-free society. This administration is dedicated to supporting every group in Abia State, including those living with HIV/AIDS,” she stated.
Mrs Otti also called on women and youths engaging in commercial sex to seek alternative means of survival, like skill acquisition programs, among others
Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Abia State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Uloaku Emma, revealed that 46,788 individuals are currently undergoing treatment in the state, highlighting the agency’s commitment to eradicating stigma as a critical step in achieving zero new infections.
In their separate remarks, representatives from NEPWHAN, the KP group, the National Secretary, Mr Joseph Anosike and the State Coordinator, Mr Agbai Okali, appreciated Mrs Otti for the intervention and emphasized the importance of sustaining the support, including job creation and sensitization, in addressing the root causes of vulnerability and controlling the virus.