Pass the right information about HIV/AIDS, ABSACA Boss tasks media houses.
The Director General Abia State Agency for the Control of HIV/Aids Dr. Uloaku Ukaegbu, has asked media houses to, through their various programs, pass the right information about Hiv/Aids, as well as apply appropriate languages and images.
Uloaku Ukaegbu stated this while declaring the workshop open a one-day sensitization workshop on emerging issues on HIV/AIDs prevention organized for selected media workers in Umuahia , Abia State.
She also charged media practitioners to see themselves as critical stakeholders in the fight against the scourge
According to her, HIV/AIDS is not over in the State and Nigeria, pointing out that people must avoid illicit sex, among other practices that exposes them to Hiv.
She maintained that the seminar has become necessary to reduce new infections, stigma, and discrimination against people living with Hiv/Aids and to do away with lifestyles that negate the efforts to reduce HIV spread.
While commending Governor Alex Otti’s response to HIV matters in the state, she expressed optimism that with the huge progress made so far in HIV/AIDS response, the scourge would drastically reduce by 2030.
Also speaking, the Director of Prevention and Mobilisation in the Agency, Mrs. Ekeoma Akidi, advised people to always ascertain their HIV status and stressed the need to discontinue the use of derogatory words to describe the scourge which has increased the stigma. She pointed out that one cannot contact the virus by associating with someone living with the disease but through blood contact.
In her presentation Mrs Munachi Aguamba, noted that HIV is not a death sentence, emphasizing the need to address stigma and discrimination against people living with the scourge.
