Every 1st of December is globally celebrated as World Aids Day. It is a day of awareness and a day to celebrate the war against reduction of HIV/AIDS. In the past few months, there have been instances of people who deliberately infect others with HIV as a form of protest for contracting the deadly virus. But,this shouldn’t have been a good way to go about it because HIV/AIDS is preventable and people living with it can live long by taking absolute precautions.
AIDS is a chronic immune system disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and it remains one of the most serious global health threats of our time.
With HIV/AIDS, people can still live normal lives,give birth,have sex and do every other thing that all uninfected people do. It is not a stigma that people should carry about but an unfortunate health situation that now has a remedy.
2022 is another year for advocacy and adequate sensitisation on the various battles to end this menace.
This year’s theme for the celebration is Equalize and the World Health Organisation and other significant partners held series of programmes to mark the day at Geneva and this was replicated in other countries of the world by their various action committees on HIV/AIDS all working in solidarity.
The great acceptance of testing kits and the continuous use of protective measures like condoms and other medications are receiving a huge boost. All it needs is the continuous sensitisation and people should endeavour to check their status.
HIV/AIDS is not a reward for promiscuity but an unfortunate health situation that shouldn’t be transferred to other people as a result of getting some kind of revenge.
The theme Equalize is targeted at ending the inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic that are not inevitable and can be tackled.
This year’s World AIDS Day,the Joint United Nations HIV/AIDS programme,(UNAIDS) is urging many to address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS.
The “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate 2022 World AIDS Day, it is my charge that we should always continue to equalize in the fight against HIV/AIDS, then we can come out better, healthier and stronger as people and individuals. We should all also play our part by not stigmatizing or ostracizing the infected around us, rather, we should encourage them not to see it as a death sentence, but rather as an illness that they can live full, wholesome lives with.
Written by Tosin Adesile.