In commemoration of the 2019 World Aids Day, with the theme “Communities makes the difference”, Africare Nigeria, through its ‘Power Foward’ Project on Tuesday hosted an outreach at Ruga, a shanti community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to raise awareness and provide information on the impact of the disease.
The campaign, which is supported by ExxonMobil and the National Basketball Association (NBA), is also part of efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country and address stigmatization against people living with the disease.
Feyishike Adekeye, the senior programme support manager, Africare, explained that the essence of the awarness campaign is to train hundreds of the community dwellers on how they can prevent HIV/AIDS, stop stigmatization and sensitive people living with the diseases how they can live positively.
Adekeye, noted that the theme of 2019 celebration is the reason why the awareness was taken to the Ruga community. This, according to her is because of the important role that communities have played and continue to play in the HIV/AIDS response at the local, National & International levels.
She informed that Ruga community which hosts residents from neighboring States such as Nasarawa and Benue, was chosen because it has a high number of youths whithin the reproductive age and who participates in sexual trade.
“The community residents live in batcha houses and conduct menial jobs to earn a living. Also, a large number of people residing in that location engage in sex work and unhealthy sexual lifestyles that exposes them to the disease”, she said.
She further said that, according the Nigerian HIV/AIDS Indicator & Impact Survey (NAIIS), Abuja has a 1.6 percent prevalence rate; of which a majority of the numbers were acquired from people living with HIV/AIDS in such communities like Ruga.
She added, “Our target is to reach over 400 people with HIV/AIDS messages, we have different categories, the brothel-based sex workers, the injectable drug users, the gay group, the out-of school youths, the uneducated and the general community as a whole”.
A beneficiary of the programme, Queen Joseph informed that the programme has broadened her knowledge on how to prevent HIV/AIDS and the different ways the disease can be contacted.
She said, “I have learnt three new things, in the drama that was presented, I understand that it’s good to use protection during sexual intercourse. I also learnt that HIV/AIDS is not only spread through sex, but can be spread through sharing of sharp objects and blood transfusion.
She assured that she will step down the knowledge she has gained with her friends.
Joseph further revealed that the Ruga community has overtime benefited from Africare health campaigns. According to her, “This is not the first time Africare will come to this community, they have been here three times. In their Malaria campaign, drugs and nets were distributed and over 600 people benefited.
Another beneficiary, Mnenege Martins also said he has gained more knowledge around HIV/AIDS prevention and how to show love to people living with the virus rather than stigmatising them
“Today, I am well educatedon on how I can prevent HIV//AIDS”, he said.
December 1 is recognized internationally by the World Health Organization as World AIDS Day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Over 3,000 condoms and 50 Long Lasting Malaria Nets were distributed at the commemoration activity as participants were engaged in fun musical and basketball games at the event.
The activity had started with a community walk to mobilize members of the community, after which a drama was presented on the dangers of engaging with multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex.
Participants were then shown how to properly use a condom and how to care and support people living with HIV/AIDS. Finally, presentations were made on management of other Sexually Transmitted Infections and on how to address stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS.
