As the world commemorated World AIDS Day on December 1, many people living with HIV in Kano shared their struggles with persistent stigma and uncertainty, despite years of sensitization campaigns.
Bashir Isma’il, Director of the Save Lives Sustainable and Counseling Initiative, told DAILY POST that discrimination against people living with HIV is still rampant, fueled largely by ignorance and poverty.
He noted that some patients even encounter subtle forms of rejection when seeking medical care.
“Stigma is still very real despite all the work government and organisations have done. Some people look down on you simply because of your status. If you are poor and go to the hospital, you may notice you’re treated differently. When certain patients receive better attention, it’s often because they can afford it,” he said.
Isma’il also expressed concern over the anxiety caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to halt medical assistance, including free HIV medication supplied through American-funded programmes.
“People were deeply worried when we heard the U.S. might stop sending drugs. Many people living with HIV are poor and cannot afford treatment on their own. Thankfully, an agreement was reached between Nigeria and the U.S. Otherwise, the situation could have been catastrophic, with infection rates rising sharply,” he added.
Patients speak about fear, rejection, and survival
Another patient, who identified himself simply as MD, said that low-income Nigerians living with HIV face the harshest challenges from diagnosis through treatment.
“I suffered a lot before I even knew my status. I spent months going from one traditional healer to another because we thought I had been cursed. When things got worse, I finally went to the hospital and got the real diagnosis. After that, I faced discrimination from family and friends,” he recalled.
Experts call for homegrown HIV research
Isah Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, acknowledged global progress in the fight against HIV but warned that developing nations cannot continue depending on wealthier countries for research and medical supplies.
“We must rise and conduct our own research. We cannot depend on others forever. God has given us the same intelligence as everyone else. Our governments and experts must take the lead in researching diseases and producing medications,” he said.
Amnesty International also noted that despite declining global infection rates, HIV remains widespread in many communities, particularly in Nigeria.
Data from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) revealed that by the end of 2024, over two million Nigerians were living with HIV, with the South-South and North-Central zones showing the highest prevalence. Kano State alone has more than 50,000 known cases.
NACA further reported that more than 51,000 Nigerians died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2024, while new infections were recorded at 74,000.
This year’s World AIDS Day theme was “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.” The World Health Organization called for stronger political will, global collaboration, and strategies grounded in human rights to achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, stressing that progress is being undermined by service disruptions and rising vulnerabilities.
World AIDS Day, first observed in 1988, is marked annually on December 1.
0 Comments