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Anambra State government has called for renewed efforts to make HIV strategic family conversation, stressing individual roles in achieving holistic epidemic control in the State and Nigeria.
Executive Director and Project Manager, Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA), Dr. Nkem Okeke made the call in a chat with newsmen, urging families and communities to engage in open and regular discussions about the disease.
He emphasized that HIV prevention, testing, treatment and the fight against stigma should not be the sole responsibility of government and healthcare professionals.
According to him, encouraging honest conversations about HIV within families would promote early testing, improve access to treatment, reduce stigma and discrimination, while inspiring healthier lifestyle choices among youths and adults.
“HIV needs to be made a strategic family conversation again, and everybody must be involved in the drive to achieve holistic epidemic control in Anambra, and indeed Nigeria.
“The fight against HIV requires the collective efforts of parents, guardians, community and religious leaders, schools, the media and other stakeholders to raise awareness and strengthen preventive measures,” he added.
Okeke reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to expanding public awareness campaigns and deepening partnerships aimed at reducing new HIV infections while ensuring people living with HIV have continued access to quality care, treatment and support.
He urged residents of the State to know their HIV status through regular testing and support ongoing efforts to eliminate the epidemic in the state and across the country.
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