***Highlight benefits of Bill
***Appeal to Gov Udom Emmanuel to sign the Bill.

By Ima Dem

The Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, (ASWHAN) Akwa Ibom State chapter has amplified its stance that the stigmatization and discrimination of people living with the HIV will continuously ruin the epidemic control efforts.

Coordinator of ASHWAN in the state, Mrs Rachel Ignatius stated this when she appeared as a guest on Inspiration FM’s Health Break programme; Health Break.

“If this law is being signed, it will go a long way to check the spread of HIV in Akwa Ibom State. It is not funny to be HIV positive in a state whereby you don’t have any law that is backing you up” She said.

She also narrated how the absence of the law messed up a legal matter that a PLHIV instituted against an individual for defamation of character

“We are talking about zero new infection by 2030 and this is 2023, we are still having new babies born with HIV. Had it been this law is in place, it would have gone a long way to check the spread”.

Recall that in October 2021, the Akwa Ibom state house of Assembly passed the HIV Anti-stigma and discrimination bill to the State Executive, His Excellency Udom Emmanuel for his assent.

In the same vein, Coordinator of the Association of Positive Youths in Nigeria, (APYIN) Akwa Ibom State Chapter Mr Churchill Kingsley specified some challenges encountered by the youths living with the virus, the prominent being dealing with stigma.

The provisions in HIV/AIDS, Anti-stigma and Discrimination Bill are aimed at prohibiting the stigmatization and discrimination of persons living with HIV and also to regulate the practice of HIV and AIDS counseling and testing.

Investigations have shown that stigma among youths, pregnant women, amongst others have contributed to the prevalence of HIV in Akwa Ibom State.