Abuja | Tuesday
NIGERIA will leave no stone unturned to prevent further spread of HIV/Aids in the country, President Olusegun Obasanjo declared in Abuja on Monday as he kicked off a rally and a nationwide walk against the scourge.
The HIV/Aids rally was organised by the National Action Committee on Aids.
“We have played a vanguard role in raising awareness against HIV/Aids,” Obasanjo said.
“The summit of the Organisation of African Unity against HIV/Aids and other related diseases held in April in Abuja have caused the World Health Organisation to raise $1,5-billion into an International Trust Fund set up by the United Nations to fight HIV/Aids globally,” he said.
Nigeria donated $10-million to the fund, while the United States donated $200-million to it.
“We in this country are determined to fight the scourge to a standstill,” Obasanjo declared.
More than one million Nigerians were estimated to have been afflicted by HIV, while several thousands had died of full-blown Aids, he said.
Several thousands of children had also been orphaned by the scourge, according to Obasanjo.
“Those who have become widowed or orphaned by the disease must be cared for, while unborn children of those who are afflicted can be prevented from being afflicted,” the president said.
“We have to raise awareness and make sure that those who have not caught the virus do not catch it. That is the responsibility we have as a government,” he said.
“And for those who have caught the virus, we should love and care for them because it is not a contagious disease,” Obasanjo stressed.
“I do not know if there is anything worthwhile to tell our brothers and sisters living with HIV/Aids than that we love them and that we care for them,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to assist government to take the campaign against HIV/Aids “to places where we should take it. To homes, schools, places of worship and workplaces”, he said.
Obasanjo expressed regret that while the disease was contracted privately, its victims died publicly.
His cabinet rose from a weekly meeting on October 3 with a decision to set up an agency to deal specially with HIV/Aids. – AFP