Ondo State Government has warned that anybody caught discriminating against the PLWA (People Living With AIDS) in the areas of employment, medical treatment, hiring, assignment, promotion, demotion, transfer, retirement, among others, would face the law.
The Secretary to the Ondo State Government and Chairman, Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola, stated this in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, Adelola spoke in Akure on Monday while delivering the keynote address at a sensitisation programme held to facilitate the enforcement of the HIV discrimination law in the state.
Adelola warned that those who transmit the HIV to anyone risk a 10-year jail term and a fine of N500,000 or both.
The law, according to the commissioner, will check the spread of HIV and AIDS and eliminate the discrimination and stigmatisation of the PLWAs, saying most times, the rights of the people living with HIV are violated, causing them to suffer both the burden of the disease and the consequential loss of their rights.
“The stigmatisation and discrimination discourage individuals infected with and affected with HIV from accessing health and social services, hence, the law stipulates further that anybody who discriminates against people living with HIV commits an offence and is liable to a fine of N100,000.00 or imprisonment of six months or both.
“This may obstruct their access to treatment and may affect their employment, housing and other rights which adversely affect the vulnerability of others to be infected,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said, “ Ondo State is the first state in the country to make a law which broadly addresses the rights of the people living with the virus.”
Akinmade urged infected persons to declare their status to their spouses or sex partners, children and parents and also called on health care professionals to take seriously the confidentiality of all medical information, particularly the identity and status of the PLWA in their possession.
*Original reportage by Punch rewritten here *
hmmmmmm.....
It is not easy to declare like dat ooo. but i like that if you stigmatize you go to jail or pay fine.
ReplyDeleteHIV people are suffering and smiling at the same time. God please bring cure to this ailment in Jesus Name - Amen.
I support dis
ReplyDeleteI like mimiko, dunno y. Maybe because I went to akure and saw good roads even in d rural communities or because he built a beautiful complex and rented the shops out for N2500 monthly or because I know a very good friend that works hand in hand with him.
ReplyDeleteI shall like him. I like him very much.
Introduce me to him na?
DeleteE reach to like am with all these ones wey u mention.
DeleteEhn ehn, so those who accuse people of having AIDS cos they look slim or are sick nko? That should be punishable too. Making unfounded accusations can be detrimental. Anyway dem try
Quicksilver I no know am na, if I know am, u know where I for dey today?
DeleteHmmmm
ReplyDeleteNice one.
ReplyDeleteNma's Blog
if I hear Nigeria and laws who will implement it abegy
ReplyDelete#GODWIN™
Is that the governor 's priority, stigma again HIV patients?
ReplyDeleteCorrect!!!
ReplyDeleteBut where's that oloriburuku oloshi bloody thwart lol,Na dis hiv AIDS go kill you and your agbepo family!!!
Lol. What is it sef?
DeleteOkija wife, ta tu ni?
DeleteNice
ReplyDeleteI didn't read but the heading for me laughing
ReplyDeleteWell....good one
Not met anyone with the virus and even if I do I won't stigmatize...
Nice!!!
ReplyDeleteThe only problem would be them sticking to it cos it's easier to say bt harder to implement.
1st nice thing worth commending from d stables of ondo state govt
Hahahah please pardon me
ReplyDeleteNice one. Ppl are scared of d stigmatization from d public, dts y de don't go for d test for fear of being positive and stigmatized at d same time. Nice one.
ReplyDeleteThe Governor should also be talking about long jail terms for HIV patients who infect others.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I think the FG should make it compulsory for everyone to know his or her HIV status. Like making it compulsory for anyone to provide his HIV status paper to access things like banking services.
There is a guy living with HIV in lagos and spreading it, his name is Shehu Sani
DeleteAhn ahn.. so if a person tests positive they shouldn't withdraw their money again? So bank officials should know ur status?
Delete**scrolls up to see ur name.** oops** should have known.
Mrs LEE please tell your HORSEBAND to leave Small Small Abuja girls alone. Infact look for a rope and tie that man and make sure u drag him wherever u are going before he infects u with HIV.. Enoff said.
ReplyDeleteDats gud to knw,because naturally is not dere fault dat dey contacted d virus,so dey should not discrimate or whatsoever
ReplyDeleteLolz, lack of awareness that causes the discrimination
ReplyDeleteIs he leaving with HIV?
ReplyDeleteStupid question
DeleteNice one.
ReplyDeleteI follow say hmmmmm
ReplyDelete@Galore
No b small tin oo
ReplyDeleteDeclare their status as if it's some kinda property. Pple will still discriminate no matter how much they claim to show love.
ReplyDeleteNYC one
ReplyDeleteGood start
ReplyDeleteNa wa for wire road o.
ReplyDeleteit is only ignorant people that still discriminate PLWA
ReplyDeleteThey are many in government now so the government will take this serious.
ReplyDeletegood one also see http://ebalb.blogspot.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteAnd his nephew is spreading STD's up and down in a desperate bid to park his failed life somewhere. Arrest your family member first. Stupid man
ReplyDeleteNice1
ReplyDeleteJailing is not the answer. Who gives these kinds of advice .Education and awareness is what is needed. What will jailing archieve.
ReplyDeleteWhen u finish educating and them no wan hear you slap them a jail term and the conform
DeleteI follow you say hmmmmm.........All these laws that are never implemented, just on paper.
ReplyDelete