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HIV/AIDS: Expert harps on safe relationships

HIV/AIDS: Expert harps on safe relationships
By Talatu Maiwada
Relationships
Abuja, Nov. 30, 2018 (NAN Dr kema Onu, Site Coordinator, AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF), an NGO, on Friday said it was healthy and safe for couples and partners that are HIV negative and positive to be involved in a relationship.
Onu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that such relationship was also known as serodiscordant relationship.
He explained that if positive partners are consistent in their intake of anti-retroviral drugs and the use of condom, the risk of transmission reduces significantly to the negative partner.
“To reduce the risk of HIV transmission, it is important for both partners and couples to take preventive measures.
“Anti-retroviral therapy, pre-exposure prophylaxis and condoms can help both partners manage and maintain their health.
“One of the benefits of anti-retroviral drug is that if the positive partners take the medication consistently, the virus could be suppressed to an undetectable level.
“With an undetectable viral load between three to six months of the positive individual, there is 96 to 97 per cent chance reduction in infecting the negative person, even without the use of condom,’’ he said.
He added that an undetectable viral load from an HIV positive person consistently on anti-retroviral drug does not mean the virus was completely absent.
Onu however explained that the billions of virus have been suppressed to a level that the machine cannot detect the virus which reduces the chance of transmission.
He said 85 per cent of such couples are found in most health facilities and out of the 85 per cent, 72 per cent of the positive partners are women.
Onu stated that serodiscordant relationships should also be encouraged because the anatomy of a man’s organ hardly gets infected.
The expert further encouraged more couples to embrace such relationships as it was healthy and safe if consistent on their medication and in the use of condom.
Onu added that various fertility options were also available for partners or couples who intend to have children of their own. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Val Day: NACA task youths to play safe, stay protected

Val Day: NACA task youths to play safe, stay protected
NAN-HG-6
Protection
Abuja, Feb. 14, 2018 (NAN) Dr Sani Aliyu, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) on Wednesday urged youths to play safe and stay protected while celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Aliyu made the call at the commemoration of 2018 World Condom Day in conjunction with Valentine’s Day celebration in Abuja.
He also enjoined youths to get tested and know their HIV status.
He said it was important for youths in the country to play safe and stay protected during this season of Valentine to arrest the transmission of new HIV infection.
“It is important for our youths to stay protected, HIV is still much around and the best way for them to protect themselves from HIV is through abstinence.
“However, if they cannot abstain from sex, then they have to use a barrier protection. Yesterday and today is an opportunity for everyone to get tested of HIV.
“All youths should get tested to know their status; it is very easy and not painful.
“Persons who test positive will be placed on medication that will help them live a normal and healthy life, while those negative should take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones,’’ Aliyu said.
Dr Greg Abiaziem, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Acting Country Programme Manager, said the event was targeted at increasing awareness and promote the prevention of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
“Others include safer sex, condom use and its role in preventing HIV and unwanted pregnancies.
“It is important to ensure that condom option was made available as preventive measure to youths who can’t abstain from sex as new HIV infections highest among young people is from 15 years to 24 years,’’ he said.
Abiaziem added that those who cannot abstain should use condom as it would prevent STDs, including HIV and unwanted pregnancies.
“The national health survey data suggests that about 4.2 per cent of young people 15 to 24 years are living with HIV.
“However, AHF is distributing about 300,000 condoms and test no fewer than 43,000 persons of HIV to commemorate World Condom Day in Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Kogi, Nasarawa and Abuja,’’ Abiaziem said.
NAN reports that AHF is the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organisation in the world that provides medical care to over 855,000 clients in 39 countries.
AHF Nigeria has been operating in the country since 2011 and has its presence in six states.
The NGO, in collaboration with NACA, celebrated the World condom day, a global event which held on Feb. 13, in conjunction with Valentine’s Day.
The theme for 2018 World Condom Day is “Always in Fashion’’. (NAN)
TIM/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

UN recommends safe, voluntary return of IDPs

UN recommends safe, voluntary return of IDPs

NAN-HG-4

Warning

By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, Feb. 16, 2017 (NAN) The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday advised the Nigerian Government to ensure safe and voluntary return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their respective communities.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, made the call at a breakfast meeting with newsmen in Abuja.

Kallon also warned against “force eviction and arbitrary closure of IDPs camps’’ in the North East of Nigeria.

“I would like to urge the authorities to ensure return of people to their homes are safe and voluntary, well-informed based on up-to-date and accurate information on their homes of origin and respect people’s dignity.

“We cannot force people to go back when there is nothing for them; there should be no forced return.

“There should be no arbitrary closure of camps without guarantees of safety, access to basic services, critical infrastructure and humanitarian assistance,” he counselled.

According to him, he saw victims of insurgency scouting around with nothing to eat, no basic social services and schools were not functioning with health centres displaced during his recent visits to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

He noted that these were people chased out of their basic homes and now trying to return but could not even reach their land because of pockets of insecurity.

Kallon expressed concern about the hardship facing the returnees, stressing that most of the basic services and infrastructure including electricity had been destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

“So you can imagine how long it will take people to have light except we have miracles of clean energy because this requires major investment; bridges were blown off, houses were destroyed.

“People are returning to nothing, that is harsh reality, but when you are in centre of the state, besides those you see in you will not see these ugly faces I am describing to you.

“But as you get into the hinterland, where the average Nigerians are living, then you can see the hardship and suffering of the people.

“I am appealing for the application and recognition of the Kampala Convention which basically says that return should be voluntary to safe areas and with dignity,” he said.

Besides, the UNDP official emphasised the need for effective reintegration programmes for women, men, girls and boys previously held by Boko Haram.

Kallon said studies indicated that people who were held by Boko Haram face rejection from families and communities.

He said infrastructure rebuilding and livelihood support needed to run in parallel with social and psychosocial reintegration programmes to effectively rebuild communities.

“It is time to plant a seed of hope in the suffering communities – enough is enough.

“To make returns sustainable, recovery, reconstruction and peace building plans should be supported in areas where there is safe access.

“The rehabilitation and reconstruction of critical infrastructure like schools, hospitals, government administration blocks, among others, will significantly improve the normalisation of life in newly-accessible areas,” he said.

According to him, the earlier we begin our recovery interventions the better as these will also provide emergency employment to the local communities.

He said there was need to scale the response in providing durable solutions to the crisis before they become protracted.

This, he said, should include provision of immediate employment for the vulnerable, improving skills and access to longer term livelihoods opportunities, construction of permanent shelters/houses and reconstruction of key public infrastructure.

He called on the international community to support efforts that bridge the humanitarian-development nexus and begin to implement interventions that seek collective outcomes and localisation of response.

Kallon however expressed optimism that Nigeria would rise above its current challenges whether it is economy, insecurity or governance related.

He said the UN system was working hard to strengthen partnerships with the government, improving efficiency and making sure interventions are effective. (NAN)

IAA/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola