The Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) has promised block votes to candidates who prioritise the fight against HIV and AIDS in the 2023 general elections in Kaduna State.
The North West Zonal Secretary of the network, Mr Aliyu Sada, made the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Thursday on the occasion of the 2022 World AIDS Day.
NAN reports that World AIDS Day is annually celebrated on Dec. 1 in UN member states since 1988 as an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic, caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who died of the disease.
The day has “Equalise” as the theme of the 2022 celebration.
AIDS is a chronic immune system disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which damages the immune system and interferes with the body’s ability to fight diseases.
HIV can be spread through contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.
There’s no cure for HIV/AIDS, but medications can control the infection and prevent disease progression and people taking HIV medications may not have other symptoms for years.
Some people with HIV develop flu-like symptoms two to four weeks after getting the virus and as the virus multiplies and destroys immune cells, symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes may occur.
If left untreated, HIV typically turns into AIDS in about eight to 10 years.
The NEPWHAN zonal director, therefore, explained that the move for block votes was to ensure sustainability of HIV and AIDS interventions in the state and sustain the progress toward
elimination of the virus in line with the SDGs targets.
He said that the network has over 42,000 registered adults with permanent voter cards, adding that the number of the affected and the infected would amount to over 100,000 in the state.
He added that “this are the winning votes if we give them all to a particular candidate who shows interest in the fight against HIV and AIDS and people living with the virus.
“We have 18 support groups in Kaduna North Senatorial District, 60 in Kaduna Central Senatorial District and 42 support groups in Kaduna South Senatorial District to mobilise for this course.
“We will go round, sit with all our members and their families, sensitise them and agree on which candidates to support based on their interest and commitment to sustain the fight against the virus.’’
The secretary commended the Kaduna State Government and development partners for the efforts toward addressing the scourge.
He noted that the government and partners were doing well in the area of treatment following the availability of drugs for sustained access by persons living with the virus under treatment.
He, however, said that in spite of this milestone, much still needs to be done to achieve the desired results.
He noted the need for the state government to create more comprehensive HIV centres, stressing that the current 56 HIV centres were grossly inadequate to provide inclusive services.
He explained that the creation of additional centres would ensure even spread of the centres and improve timely access to HIV services within a short distance.
“This will also bring drugs closer to the people and save them time and resources being spent on travels to the nearest centre to access drugs and other services,” he said.
He called on those living with the virus to always visit HIV centres to access drugs to remain on treatment to achieve viral load suppression and live a quality life.
Sada said he is a living example of how people living with the virus can live a quality, healthy and longer life and have a family with children that could be negative.
“I knew my status in 2007 and had been on drugs since then, which is helping me to live a normal life like any other HIV-free person.
“I was falling sick off and on and was advised to go for a general test, including HIV and it turned out positive and was immediately placed on drugs.
“Today, I am happily married with two wives and four children who are all negative,’’ he said.
(NAN)
