REPORT CASES OF STIGMATIZATION- IMOKE TELLS AIDS VICTIMS

 Senator Liyel  Imoke of Cross River State has warned against stigmatization and discrimination against persons living with Human Immune Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HIV/AIDS.

 Represented at the occasion by his deputy, Barr. Efiok Cobham, Gov. Imoke spoke on behalf of persons living with AIDS on Monday in Calabar during an event organised to commemorate the World Aids Day.

The 2014 World Aids Day in Calabar was sponsored by the United Cement Company of Nigeria (UNICEM), with the theme: `close the gap, stop stigmatization and discrimination’.

It would be recalled that “the government of Cross River State has passed the anti-stigmatization law with the intention that we would implement that law to the latter.

``For those persons living with HIV/AIDS, it is important to report cases of stigmatization because that would help the government to drive the process.

``HIV/AIDS is not the kind of disease you contact by touching an individual or relating with them’’, the governor stressed.

According to him, there was a need to close the gap in the treatment, in educating the people about the pandemic, and in all ramifications in other to eradicate the disease.

Similarly, Mrs Irene Aniyom, the Director General of State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA), also warned against stigmatization and discrimination against person living with HIV/AIDS.

Aniyom added that stigmatization and discrimination against persons living with the disease could frustrate some of them even up to the level of committing suicide.

``Stigmatization has led to suicide, hunger, unemployment, child mortality and others’’, she stressed.

 Mr Olivier Lenoir, Managing Director of (UNICEM) disclosed that the company has been part of the event for the past five years.

Represented by Mr Hans Mielants, Supply Chain Director of UNICEM, Lenoir said that the sponsorship was borne out of the commitment to fighting the disease.

``The impact of HIV/AIDS on humanity is worrisome and requires concerted efforts in the fight to bring about the AIDS-free society”, he added.