INGRA urges Kogi Youths to unite to end stigmatization against People living with HIV/AIDs

The Initiative for Grassroot Advancement (INGRA) has called on Youths in Kogi State to remain united in a bid to end HIV and AIDS stigmatization.

The Executive Director of INGRA Hamza Aliyu made the call at a Town Hall Meeting held on Saturday in Lokoja.

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that Aliyu disclosed that the stigmatization against people living with HIV and AIDS has jacked up in Kogi State and Nigeria in general despite sensitization and the passage of anti HIV/AIds stigmatization law by the Kogi State House of Assembly.

He appealed to Kogi State Governor to give assent to the law which was passed by the current eight Assembly adding that it will help checkmate institutions, individuals who stigmatize people infected by HIV/AIDs.

"This generation is for all of us to take a stands and say to no stigmatization of people living with HIV and AIDS. Kogi Youths should rise up, speak with one voice to put an end to this problem.

"Many have lost their lives through suicide because of rejection in the society. Many people also have been denied jobs, admission just because they are living with HIV AIDs. This must stop and that is why Youths in Kogi State should unite to end HIV/AIDS stigmatization"He added.

Giving an overview of the town hall meeting, the resource person Katherine Banku Odok argued that 35 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS report that they are being stigmatized.

Explaining further, Odok said " Recent reports by UNAIDS revealed that 25 percent of HIV related death are attributed to stigma while 60 percent of young people living with HIV experienced stigma. 36 percent of new HIV infections occur among youths between 15-24years while 220,000 adolescents (10-19 yrs.) died from AIDS related illnesses in 2020.

"Nigeria has 30 percent of new HIV infections among youths (from age 15-24). This is according to a report from the National Agency for the control of AIDS in 2020. 20 percent of suicide cases came as a result of stigma. 50 percent of young people living with HIV report that they are feeling being isolated. 40 percent report experiencing depression, while 30 percent report experiencing anxiety"

Odok emphacized that uniting to end stigma is pivotal to putting a halt to the unnecessary death recorded year-in-year-out as a result of stigmatization of People living with HIV AIDs.

"Youths should bring in fresh perspectives and open-mindedness, unencumbered by outdated harmful attitudes and biases. Young people can leverage on digital innovations as a result of their vast technology driven orientation. They have the capacity to influence their peers, creating ripple effect that challenges social norm.

"This is a call to action for youths to take charge of this fight.The prevalent issues of stigma is now our collective responsibility. We must now give a face to this fight by identifying with the oppressed (people living with HIV/AIDS)Together we can make everyone feel valued, heard, respected and loved"she stated.

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