As a way to deepen the sensitization on HIV prevention/treatments, Oyo NOA has taken the campaign to the media domain to reduce the incidence of rising figures of those who are at risk of contacting the deadly disease.
Mr Babatunde Ogundipe, a Deputy Director in the department of Health and Social care who represented Oyo state director NOA, Aderogba Akanbi on IBR Station “Compass” this evening, shocked the listeners with the WHO revelation that about 1.2million Nigerians out of a global number of 3.9million HIV positive persons are currently battling with the disease despite the persistent sensitization on how to curb the menace, the trend, which he said, has necessitated NOA to step up campaigns against the disease commonly spread by “immunodeficiency virus” that vitiates immune system.
Mr Ogundipe threw more lights on other modes of transmission of the disease such as unprotected sexual intercourse, body fluids from the carrier, blood transfusion with infected blood, occupational exposure, careless handling of used needles/syringes sharing, exchange of sharp objects which has touched the blood of infected agents etc.
Considering the lackadaisical attitudes of some people who are, treating HIV as a bygone disease, Ogundipe sounded a note of warning that since HIV has continued unabated the rigorous campaigns to ward it off should also not be a one- off thing, rather it should be a year round.
The NOA deputy director who noted that there are new cases of HIV springing up as many victims are now coming out of their shells because of the enormity of the sensitization campaigns, also advised citizens to undergo regular HIV tests when they observe any signs of body malfunctioning, saying that ‘early detection helps in preventing spread of the disease.
Mr Ogundipe also advised the public that they should not wait until HIV disease spirals out of Control, that the people should go for regular tests.
He also dismissed those overblated misconceptions on the causes of HIV like kissing, hugging, eating from the same plate with the victim, etc, as mere fabrications since blood contact is not in any way involved.
“Awareness raising on the life-threatening pandemic should not be limited to only
World AIDS Day designated on 1st December every year. It should continue on a daily basis” Babatunde Ogundipe stated.
“The greatest weapon we have in fighting HIV/AIDS is awareness creation,” he emphasised.
Thereafter, Ogundipe recommended additional nutrition, anti retroviral therapy, regular exercise, consistent medication etc for the victims as, he also warned against the stigmatisation of any known HIV carriers adding that with regular treatments and caution, there are chances for them to live long as a normal person even with the disease.
