Oyo criminalises stigmatising people living with HIV/AIDS

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Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo State Governor

The Oyo State Government on Friday launched the state’s HIV/AIDS Anti-Stigma Law 2016, to protect and preserve the fundamental rights of people living with the disease.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi said at the event held at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State Secretariat, that the law was to checkmate the increasing rate of stigmatisation and discrimination against those living with HIV and AIDS.

Ajimobi, represented by Mr Azeez Adeduntan, the Commissioner for Health, said that HIV and AIDS was no longer a death sentence as was widely believed.

He assured that his administration would ensure strict implementation of the law, and called on all stakeholders to join hands with government in eliminating stigmatipsation and discrimination against those infected with the virus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Ajimobi had assented to the Oyo State HIV/AIDS Anti-Stigma Law on Oct. 15, 2016.

The law states that people living or affected by HIV and AIDS have a right to freedom from discrimination on the basis of their real or perceived HIV status.

According to the law, such people have freedom and access to continued employment, good conditions of employment, employment benefits and comprehensive health services.

The others were education, use of public facilities and other social services provided by employer, community, government or any other establishment.

The law stipulates a fine of not less than N250, 000 for individuals, N500, 000 for organisations or imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or both for anyone who contravened its provisions.

Similarly, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, the wife of the Governor, described the law as a landmark achievement in the history of the state.

The governor’s wife, who doubles as the Chairperson, Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), said that stigma and discrimination were barriers hindering access to care and treatment.

“It is no doubt that stigma and discrimination against people infected or affected by HIV and AIDS exists at all levels of human endeavour and this has adversely affected the level of uptake of HIV services in the state.

“The consequences of stigma and discrimination against these persons may result in low turn-out for HIV counseling and testing

“Also included are; identity crises, loneliness, depression, low self-esteem, lack of interest in containing the disease and in a few cases, suicide,” she said.

The OYSACA chairperson said that research had shown that discrimination against people living with HIV was a contributing factor for delayed initiation of HIV treatment and services.

She said that many of those people living with HIV did not began care regimen within the first six months after diagnosis due to fear of stigma, discrimination and shame.

According to her, this ultimately increases the risk of morbidity and mortality among HIV infected individuals.
“The state HIV and AIDS Anti-Stigma law launched today has made it a criminal offence for anyone or institution in the state to deny an individual living with HIV/AIDS a right or due benefits as a result of his or her status.”

The governor’s wife called on all stakeholders to identify with the law and give it the necessary public enlightenment for the benefit of the general public.

She expressed confidence in the legal instrument to drastically reduce the incidences of stigma and discrimination.
Mr Seun Abimbola, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, said that the implementation of the law across the state was a collective responsibility of all.

Abmbola urged all relevant stakeholders to obtain a copy of the law and become vanguards of the implementation.
He commended the passion of the governor’s wife which saw the law become a reality.

Representatives of various NGOs on HIV/AIDS in their goodwill messages applauded the government for the law, calling for its strict implementation.

NAN reports that the event was attended by members of the State Executive Council and members of OYSACA across the 33 local governments in the state.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2k6ANCI

High rate of homosexual abuse worries Borno residents

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Mr Bashir Shuwa, a resident of 707 quarters in Maiduguri said that anal sex was now taken a centre stage in the town.

Some residents of Maiduguri have decried the increasing cases of child abuses by unscrupulous homosexual persons.

The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Tuesday that the trend was rampant in the recent times and if left unchecked, it would become a norm in the society.

Mr Bashir Shuwa, a resident of 707 quarters in Maiduguri said that anal sex was now taken a centre stage in the town.

He said that homosexual persons were now taking the advantage of children vulnerability to force them into such acts.

“Recent events in Maiduguri have brought to the fore some disturbing trends that is afflicting several neighbourhoods, who helplessly watch their wards being lured into anal sex.

According to him, those who commit such delinquent acts on minors and others always get away with their crimes unpunished because of the influence they wield in the society.

“This unpleasant tendency should not be allowed to remain unchecked if we want to live in a decent and tolerable society, where standard ethical norms are being obeyed by all.

Mubarak Pate, another resident, said that a situation where highly respected members of the society were engaging the young male children in anal sex was embarrassing.

Pate said many of the elite in the society were accused of not only being homosexual persons but as perpetrators of child abuse.

“Even in countries where Sodomy has been legalised, they descend heavily against those who do it to minors or under aged children.

“We should ensure that all those with such dirty habits are punished for their crimes.

“Accordingly, they should not be placed in positions of responsibility so as not to make their criminal activities look attractive to innocent people,’’ he said.

Bulama Ba’aba, a resident of 1,000 Housing Estate in Maiduguri, said the ugly activity was even more in the estate and it was being overlooked.

Similarly, Hajiya Salamatu Abdulkadir, a politician, said that the level at which reported cases of such abuse were being thrown under the rug was worrisome.

“The victims of the abuse are being subjected to mockery, while the perpetrators walk with pride and haughtiness as they continue with their unimpeded misdemeanour.

Abdulkadir emphasised the need to stop this despicable practice from being spread to innocent children by those who encouraged it.

Reacting, Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, the Borno Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said the trend was true and very disturbing.

Abdullahi said two weeks ago, the command apprehended a man who used an electric heater to burn his son anus because he was engaging in homosexual.

“The command discovered that the youth between eight years and 13 years old were being lured by their partners.

“We, therefore, urged parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children and wards to checking the trend of homosexuality in our society,” Abdullahi said.

Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kmczrP