Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has
said about 700,000 young are living with HIV/
AIDS.
The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr. Michel
Sidibe, said this in Abuja on Wednesday.
Sidibe warned that Nigeria risked the danger of
new HIV infections if its youths were not properly
educated about the effects of the virus.
He said, “If we don’t engage young people as
actors of change, we will not stop new infections.
An estimated 700,000 young people aged 15 to
32 are living with HIV—a number nearly one-fifth
of the total population of HIV-positive people in
Nigeria, according to data from the UN body.
“It is also estimated that only 24 percent of
young people have accurate knowledge that
could help them adopt behaviours to reduce the
risk of HIV transmission.”
The UNAIDS boss also called on the Federal
Government to speed up the passage of the bill
prohibiting stigma and discrimination against
people living with HIV/AIDS.
Sidibe, who spoke during the event in
Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory,
also advocated the quick passage of the HIV/AIDS
anti-stigmatisation and discrimination bill.
He said, “People are suffering more from stigma,
discrimination and exclusion than even from the
disease.” Punch Nigeria.
