AHIP cautions on discrimination against PLWHAs
By SALIHU N. MUHAMMAD

THE executive director, Adolescent Health and Information Project (AHIP), Kano, Hajiya Mairo Bello Garko, has appealed to the general public not to stigmatize and discriminate People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) in their communities.
The director, made this known through Mrs. Felicito E. Innoma, AHIP’s finance officer during the inter-secondary schools competition on Stop AIDS, Stop Stigmatization and Discrimination Episode (SASS), which was organized by a youth corper, Mr. Okay Kitua John, held at AHIP headquarters along Maiduguri road in Kano.
Hajiya Mairo stated that the programme was very important and is aimed at sensitizing the youths in the state noting that “AIDS is real” therefore advised the youths to abstain from any social vices.
She also called on the public to show love and support to PLWHA, as according to her, it could be her, you, your friend or even a relative with the hope that you will work by what has been seen and heard during presentations.
In his address, the organizer of the competition, Mr. Okay Kitua John expressed gratitude to the director of AHIP for her moral and financial support as well as motherly advise.
He enjoined the participants to go home with a mission in order to save Nigeria and fight against HIV/AIDS, how to help youths, develop them and empower them to stop stigmatizing PLWHA.
He pointed out that PLWHA victims are human beings like us so there is need to give them both moral, social, financial and medical support, adding that they need not be abandoned by the community.
Also speaking, Mr. Onoja Gabriel, a medical officer and also Anti-AIDS Club patron, Federal Government College, Kano, expressed satisfaction with the competition.
He said the measure is a good strategy to transmit the information about HIV/AIDS to the public through drama, competition, health talk etc.
He lamented that, it is not the disease that kills but stigmatization and discrimination.
In his remark, the peer educator/trainer and also a youth corper serving with Federal Government College, Kano, Mr. Agemoh C. William, commended the effort of AHIP in this direction.
Mr. William therefore, advised the public to seek for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) to ensure that everyone knows his or her HIV status.
He said with this, spread of the HIV virus will be reduced and called on PLWHAs to disclose their status which is part of effort of preventing further spread of virus in the society.
About six secondary schools and colleges were invited while FGC Kano, emerged the best over all winner, Saint Louis Secondary School, Bompai, Kano, become best in performance and speech, Hannatu Memorial College, Airport Road, Kano, emerged best in cultural dance, Bennie International Schools, Hadejia road, Kano, best in drama presentation, Lufaloy Secondary School, Tarauni neat and well-organized, while the Mayor Comprehensive, Maiduguri road, were observers.