Every December 1 is known as World Aids Day across the globe. Ahead of this year celebration, the theme for the year 2018 World Aids Day is“Do you know your Status”? How many people actually know their status? In Nigeria, the 2005 HIV/AIDS/syphilis sentinel survey show that 4.4% are living with HIV/AIDS of the total adult population aged 15-49 years who are still sexually active. The sentinel survey was compiled from data collected at antenatal clinics across the country. The Median HIV/ AIDS prevalence among antenatal clinics has leveled off at around 4% according to FMOH report. However, such a report is a guideline and cannot be considered conclusive as most Nigerian mothers do not deliver in clinics and not all of them do allow themselves to be tested for HIV/AIDS according to another report.
Research from UNAIDS Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic 2002 has it that Nigeria has the third largest global number of people living with HIV/AIDS with an estimated number of between 1.7 million- 4.2 million after India and South Africa and this has not changed. Countries of the world have been responding to the challenges of HIV/AIDS through various awareness campaigns to sensitize her nationals on meaning, mode of spread as well as prevention of the infection. Also, the media have played a pivotal role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In 2004, Global Media AIDS Initiative affirmed that education is the vaccine against HIV/AIDS.
In Africa, millions of people, especially the youths do not comprehend this disease full impact, how it is contracted and how to arm oneself against it, therefore become imperative. HIV/AIDS which may be contracted through unprotected sex, sharing of sharp objects and a host of others but more importantly, HIV/AIDS has no cure as prevention appears as the only viable option.
Therefore many media organizations are now rising to the challenge by promoting awareness of HIV/AIDS and educating the general public on its control while lot of researches had been on-going on drugs that could prevent contracting the ailment before sex and also after which is the PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) and PREP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) which is not available in Nigeria.
The strength of media in influencing people’s perception as well as making society to change their behavior may be an essential tool for fighting medical and social problem such as HIV/AIDS. In other words, the media could be used to successfully advocate for behavioral and attitudinal change and more specifically addressing people living with HIV/AIDS in order to prevent stigmatization as well as discrimination against the infected and affected persons.
It is in realization of this fact that many nations of the world are using the annual Worlds Aids programme to further advance the course of propagating the gospel of HIV/AIDS as well as removing Nigeria’s name from the list of the country with more history of HIV/AIDS as well as provide alternative for the control through the use of Condom for protection as well as other ways of contracting it not forgetting the role of the media especially airing of programmes relating to HIV/AIDS education and prevention.
Though, there has been pervasive lack of awareness of and knowledge about HIV/AIDS despite its high prevalence, yet, it is important we all join hands together to fight this menace by leading by example which is to first Know our status after then we encourage others to follow suit.
By so doing, Nigeria will sing a new song as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned.
By Tosin Adesile