Some Nigerians have called for increase awareness among the populace to bring back of issues relating to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) to the front burner.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that since the advent of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, less attention was being paid to them other health-related conditions, including HIV/AIDS.
Commenting, a 41-year old sailor, Mr Damilola Akintunji, residing in Lekki area of Lagos, commended the governments and other organisations for their efforts over the years to combat the HIV scourge.
Akintunji said: “Thankfully, we now have treatments for HIV and has been well managed by some hospitals designated for it.
“However, we still need to do more in the area of awareness to make people understand the need to protect themselves; as I am aware, it is still a burden.”
He said that preventing HIV required efforts by individuals to make use of condoms, which was very important for random sexual activities.
“It is important that people, who do not have one sexual partner, to use protective means such as condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
“I am also aware of other means of protecting oneself, including not sharing sharp objects, in case somebody has the diseases,” Akintunji said.
Also commenting, a businessman, Mr Emmanuel Afiawari, said HIV/AIDS scourge was not new to the public, noting that many people ignorantly believed it was not real.
Afiawari said that there was urgent need to upgrade awareness campaigns to remind people that the scourge is still prevalent in the country.
“I am aware of what HIV entails, but many people are still ignorant and, therefore, there is need to scale up programmes to educate people,” the businessman said.
He said contraceptives were for preventing unwanted pregnancies as well as the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Afiawari, however, said that contraceptives such as condoms, was not 100 per cent guaranteed and it has side effects.
“It is advisable not to use one arbitrarily, but follow the advice of seasoned medical experts, ” he said.
Also, Mrs Agnes Chukwumah, who teaches in Sunny Fields Primary School in Surulere, Lagos, said that schools, especially, secondary schools should have clubs to educate students on the scourge of HIV/AIDS.
Chukwumah, who works at a primary school, Sunny Fields Primary school, Lagos, said that non- governmental organisations should target the public secondary schools.
“More students are becoming more sexually active and many may not be using any form of protection, which can lead them into contacting diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
“So, the government and NGOs can form clubs in the schools to promote, first, abstinence to prevent diseases such as HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies,” she said.
In her contributions, Mrs Grace Afonne, also a primary school teacher in Sunny Fields Primary School in Surulere, Lagos, said that primary five and six pupils were being taught topics relating to sexually transmitted diseases.
“Afonne said: “This will prepare the pupils awareness about such diseases and also prepare them for the secondary school level.
“I believe awareness about HIV is high, however, the government, organisations and individuals, need to continue to create awareness so that more people will take preventive measures seriously.”
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In his contributions, Mrs Peju Akanji, a Businesswoman, said HIV/AIDS was still in existence, but people no longer talk about it because of the COVID-19 issue.
According to her, COVID-19 cannot take over the awareness of HIV/AIDS in the society as awareness on AIDS has gone far than for people to neglect the use of condom.
“I don’t have sex with other men without using condom; I am use to it and it is like a norm.
“I strongly believe that COVID-19 cannot erode the use of condom by people, because they are different pandemic that needs to be treated differently,” Akanji said.
