The Health Ministries Department of Abia North Central Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has organized a Health Walk and HIV/AIDS Awareness campaign in commemoration of the World AIDS Day with the theme: Let’s Confront HIV, Not Fear It.
President of ABNC Pastor Uguru and the Director Health Ministries, Elder Michael Enyinnaya
The Health Walk took off from Okpara square Umuahia through Uzuakoli road and terminated at the premises of the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, BCA.
The members were seen carrying placard with the inscriptions ; Daily 30-minute walk promotes Good Health and prevents many Diseases, Fear & Ignorance promote HIV/AIDS, Learn about HIV/AIDS and end Stigmatization and Discrimination, the Fight Against HIV/AIDS is Collective; Communities get Involved, HIV/ AIDS Detected early is No Longer a Death Sentence, You Don’t Get HIV/AIDS by Caring for and Showing Love to HIV and AIDS Patients; Hug, Shake and Share a Meal with HIV/AIDS Patient Today and Know You’re Still Safe.
Members of the church
Speaking at the end of the awareness campaign, the President, Abia North Central Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church Pastor Enyinnaya K K Uguru, stated that the reason behind the Health Walk was in fulfillment of the Church mission of raising a holistic human being embedded in physical , mental , social and spiritual growth.
Pastor Uguru said the church chose the physical aspect which is total health to promote the health of its members and also pass on message to those leaving with HIV/AIDS not to be afraid of the scourge but confront it.
He thanked the Adventist AIDS International Ministry AAIM and the Health Ministries Department of the Conference to for organising the awareness campaign.
Earlier in his lecture Titled: Resolving The Fear Of HIV, the Director Health Ministries Department of Abia North Central Conference Elder, Dr Michael Enyinnaya said that statistics showed that from 1983 when HIV/ AIDS was first diagnosed till end of 2018, there were about 35.4 Million deaths and 77.3 Million infected with about 70 percent leaving in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Mrs Enyinnaya and Mrs Basil
Dr Enyinnaya said the reasons why this disease has claimed many lives and affected many more was because people is shrouded with fear of what would be the response of relatives, loved ones, family members, co-workers and even Church members if tested positive , leading to stigma and discrimination.
He mentioned some of the fears leading to stigma and discrimination which does not have a place in HIV to include; Fearful of contracting HIV by the use of the same washed cooking utensils utilized by HIV person, afraid of sending your child to a school known to have HIV positive students or teacher; refusing to buy food prepared, served or sold by positive person, denial of employment or giving a lesser pay; afraid of contracting HIV by hugging, embracing, sitting close, conversing or shaking hands, labelling those with HIV as walking dead, mobile skeleton, curse of God, among others.
The Health Director allayed the fear that HIV/AIDS can be contracted through hugging, eating, walking together with those infected by HIV and urged members to speak against, stimatisation or discrimination against those leaving with HIV.
Speaking on the prevalence rate of HIV in the South East, Enyinnaya said that 2018 statistics pegged it on 1.4 percent on every thousand, adding that there is no statistical prove of the rate in Abia State.
He said that the Church was making effort to collaborate with the state government in the future to organize such programme.
The Health Walk was joined by notable members of the Church including, the President, Abia North Central Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Pastor Enyinnya K.K Uguru, Secretary of the Conference Pastor Kennedy C Iheoma, Treasurer of the Conference Mrs. Onyinyechi Ogwo, Eastern Nigerian Union Conference Women Ministries Director, Mrs Chinyere Nwokochah, ENUC Adventist Men Organisation Director, Elder Sampson Agonmou; Women Ministries Director of ABNC Mrs. Rose Ogba Otah, Education Director, Elder Ihuoma Ukaegbu, Youth Minitries Director, Pastor Joshua Ihedigbo District Elder of Seventh-Day Adventist Church World Bank Housing Estate, Elder James Nwokochah amongst others.
