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HIV/AIDS: Oyo records low level of stigma cases

HIV/AIDS: Oyo records low level of stigma cases
By Akeem Abas
Stigma
Ibadan, July 29, 2018 (NAN) The Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) has said that the level of stigma against Persons Living with HIV (PLWHIV) in the state has reduced drastically in relative terms compared to other states.
Mr Obatunde Oladapo, the OYSACA Executive Secretary, disclosed this on Sunday in Ibadan during an advocacy visit to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oladapo led the management team of OYSACA during the visit.
NAN recalls that the state government had promulgated a law against stigmatising PLWHIV as part of efforts to stem the trend.
Oladapo stated that the low level of stigma was a result of adequate sensitisation and enlightenment programmes on the scourge.
He said that the people of the state were now more informed about the ills HIV/AIDS, saying they now understand the need to support PLWHIV and stop discriminating against them.
“OYSACA will revolutionise resource mobilisation and collaborate with stakeholders to develop a work plan and Rapid Response mechanism.
“This is to ensure prompt and effective response to people living with HIV and survivors of abuse on medical, legal, emotional and psycho-social grounds,” he said.
Oladapo who advocated economic empowerment of women living with HIV, noting that the highest percentage of people living with HIV are women.
He called for collaborative effort of the Ministry of Women Affairs to address violence and abuse against vulnerable groups in the state such as women, children, adolescents and orphans.
Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, commended the management of OYSACA for a new improved agency.
Osunkoya explained that protecting the rights of vulnerable people and less privileged in the state was a major concern of the ministry.
“We are passionate about the welfare of women and children in the state. Together, we can truly reduce the scourge of violence against vulnerable children and women in the state and the country at large,” she said. (NAN)
TAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

New Year: Abuja records low turnout of workers

New Year: Abuja records low turnout of workers
NAN-H-43
Resumption
By Funmilayo Adeyemi/Monday Ijeh
Abuja, Jan. 2, 2018 (NAN) Low turn-out of workers have been recorded in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, after the New New Year holiday.
The Federal Government had declared Monday, Dec. 25, 2017; Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017; and Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, as public holidays for the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year celebrations to enable Nigerians enjoy Yuletide.
Workers were expected to resume normal duty after Yuletide holiday.
However, activities at the Federal Secretariat and various Ministries, Departments and Parastatals (MDAs), Abuja, was low as few workers resumed for duty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents who went round the MDAs on Tuesday reports that the majority of the workers were yet to resume.
NAN also reports that commercial activities around the secretariat were low as many people who engaged trading were also not present.
Some of the workers who spoke with NAN were optimistic that the country would experience a better turnaround in the New Year.
Mr Tony Ihuoha, a civil servant, said that it was time for Nigerian workers to rededicate their lives to their work to achieve greatness in the year.
According to him, if we can work harder and add our input in terms of our human and mental resources to the job we do, Nigeria will be better for it.
He however said that the low turnout of workers could be because many travelled for the holidays and were yet to return.
At the Phase 3 of the secretariat, housing the Federal Ministry of Education, civil servants were seen treating files and attending to their schedule of work.
Mrs Dorcas Babatunde, also a civil servant, told NAN that the holidays had come and gone, and it was necessary for workers to be at their duty post for a successful outcome of the year.
Babatunde said that though work had resumed, but activities had yet to pick up in the offices.

“The year has started on a good note. Some workers has resumed while others are yet to resume.
“I believe that by Monday, activities would have taken shape at the secretariat. But all I know is that many are yet to return from their journey.
Miss Chinenye Eze, a recharge card seller, said that business was dull as many of her customers had not resumed work.
Eze, who was hopeful that things would get better as soon as many of the workers return, said sales were very low at the resumption of work.
Also Mrs Iyabo Agbaje, a food vendor, said it was a normal thing at the resumption of work to experience low sales.
“I have learnt from previous resumption of work that there will always be a low turnout of workers the first day work resume.
“What I did was to cook little food that I know I can finish selling before the close of work. This is because I have had experiences of having to throw food away because of low patronage,” she added.
NAN also reports that the ever busy car park at the Eagle Square was scanty with few vehicles parked.
A car park attendant, Mr Abdul Ilori, confirmed that the level of resumption of civil servants after the New Year holiday was poor.
Ilori admitted that patronage was also low, blaming the situation on the fact that most civil servants had not resumed.
He expressed optimism that normal activities would begin from Monday (Jan. 8) as it has always been the situation in previous years. (NAN)
FAK/IMC/ESAN/MST
Edited by Abiodun Esan/Muhammad Suleiman Tola