36th INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL MARKED IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.

DR. BRIGHT ONIOVOKUKOR, STATE COORDINATOR, CIVIL SOCIETY FOR HIV/AIDS IN NIGERIA (CiSHAN) EDO STATE CHAPTER MADE A REMARK DURING THE 36th INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL THAT HELD ON 19TH MAY, 2019 IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.








He stated that the Annual International AIDS Candlelight memorial, beyond being a grass root mobilization campaign for HIV Awareness in the world, it is also an opportunity to address key issues that fuel the spread of the virus thereby making getting to zero a mirage. As we remember those that have died of AIDS, we need the support of everyone to encourage others to live positively. The 2019 theme is intensifying the fight for health and rights!

*Edo State HIV prevalence is 1.9 (NAIIS 2018) which is worrisome because the Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) 2018 revealed that majority of cases that make up the 1.9 are new infections. This is an indication that a lot of work still needs to be done to stop new infections. The Edo State Government has made a remarkable step in the HIV Response the by ensuring that the Agency (EDOSACA) in place to address HIV related matters.*

There is an urgent need to pay close attention to the negative effect of Unhealthy Economic, Social, Religious, Political, Cultural, Environmental and Educational factors as they fuel the spread of HIV especially in cases where Human Rights are violated. The need to uphold the Human Rights in all ramifications is important as well as making health care (especially information) accessible to all without any form of discrimination. We are deeply concerned with the higher HIV prevalence in women who in our society have been victims of all forms of human right violation. We can quickly reflect on the numerous case of violence against women in the recent past.

*There are laws and policies to address the socioeconomic issues that fuel the spread of HIV if they would be implemented. In the words of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Of what use is the law if it is not implemented* 

Finally, we all know that HIV is not only medical, we use this opportunity to appeal ALL Authorities (public and private) in Edo State to stand up, make their inputs and join resources to ending AIDS. Thanks for being part of this Memorial.

Dr. Bright E. Oniovokukor, State Coordinator, CiSHAN Edo (08052735427)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COVID-19 REVEALING THE FUTURE: HOW PREPARED ARE WE? – PART II

Image
  COVID-19 resulted in some dramatic cost saving changes. One of the most obvious is the way conferences were organized and will likely be organized going forward. Though a number of international many conferences were cancelled and events were called off before of COVID-19, many others held. In addition, the number of seminars, training, meetings, teachings that now goes on online is unprecedented. This will removed some stress from planning and organizing meetings and conferences The large migration to online services has implications for subscription for data services: participants will opt for data networks that can best support their need in terms of speed, availability and cost. The Zoom, a Chinese company founded in 2011, allows its users to host a group meeting with a maximum of 100 participants for 40 minutes free. Now with $15 per month, you can host a meeting with 400 participants. During the current covid19 epidemic, the company grew its active users from l...
Read more

FALSE DIAGNOSIS OF TYPHOID MUST STOP IN NIGERIA!

Image
In Nigeria, if you called in sick and couldn’t make it to work, it was probably because you had Malaria and Typhoid. Did I hear you say Typhoid? You have participated in Fraud! Let me shock you, the rate of Typhoid fever occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa based on existing studies is less than 1%, unlike malaria prevalence which currently stands above 60% in Nigeria. Yet, typhoid fever, a disease caused by Salmonella typhi and its paratyphi variant is being diagnosed on a daily basis and treated at an unprecedented rate in Nigeria. This situation has gotten so bad that almost every patient; male, female, young and old with febrile illness in Nigeria is treated for typhoid. At every turn, what you hear is: ‘I have just been diagnosed and treated for malaria and typhoid’ or ‘since I treated malaria and its not going I must definitely have typhoid. As a matter of fact, patients who believe they have these twin ailments will abandon doctors who refuse to treat the Typhoid component ...
Read more

Edo2024: Governor from Edo Central........Thinking Right

Image
  Looking at the history of Edo State right from independence it may beat your imagination that two Senatorial districts have actually dominated the helms of affairs as Administrator and Governors. The Edo North and Edo South have always been in charge while the Edo Central have been perpetually left out.  Nigeria A little dive into the pre-independence era, we can attest that Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro CON of blessed memory was one of Nigeria's foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. He was also very instrumental in the struggle for Nigeria's independence and he hailed from Uromi. His track record shows that he did well.    Post-independence, we also had Prof. Ambrose Alli who ruled in the then Bendel State has his legacy still speaking volume today. He happens to be the last of those that has come from Edo Central Senatorial District. However, historically, during his reign, neither the Edo State nor the Senatorial Distr...
Read more