PATA Wants Enforcement Of HIV Anti-stigma Law

Positive Action For Treatment Access (PATA), has called for awareness and the enforcement of HIV Anti-stigma law of Lagos State.

Speaking to our correspondent, the PATA programme Manager, Mr Francis Umoh, said “the Anti-stigma law which is meant to protect People Living With HIV/AIDS‎ (PLWHs) from any kind of rejection, abuse and infringement on their fundamental human right is yet to be enforced in the state and this is because it lacks adequate awareness to get it enforced‎.”

Umoh revealed that Lagos state passed the Anti-stigma Bill into law since 2007 and so far has published simplified copies of the law to make it easier for the common man to be able to understand the content of the law.

“The copies have been distributed to key stakeholders because we believe that for law to be effective, a lot of people need to be aware about it and then apply same,” he said.

According to a survey carried out by Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2011, (MICS) and the Demographic and Health Survey 2013 (DHS) which was adopted by United Nations Children Fund, (UNICEF) on people’s acceptance of attitudes of PLWHs indicates that “‎27 percent of people are not willing to care for a family member with AIDS at home.

“56 percent of people would not buy fresh vegetables from a vendor with AIDS, 46 percent believe female teacher with AIDS should not be allowed to continue teaching while 60 percent of people would want to keep secret that a family member got infected with AIDS.”

Although, minor disparities exists in terms of accepting attitudes towards PLWH with‎ regards to educational level, wealth index and area of residence.

Just like Kaduna and Gombe State, the Lagos State government needs ‎massive enlightenment campaign to sensitize people on the provisions of the HIV Anti-stigma‎ law in order to end stigma.