AEGiS-14IAC: Rights of people living with AIDS : a taboo in our villages.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Rights of people living with AIDS : a taboo in our villages.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. G12558)

Obi GO
GADYLP, Lagos, Nigeria

ISSUES: In spite of the fact that AIDS is not a moral issue but public health problem, people Living with AIDS are still being stigmatised, rejected and left to die in utter isolation in our villages. Since everybody including PLWA is entitled to the same Human Rights, all attempts must be made to accommodate, protect and promote the rights of PLWA . Against this backdrop, people of this resource - poor environ -ment need to be educated and sensitized in accepting PLWA with honour and dignity.

DESCRIPTION: This paper will explore various dehumanising and humilating ways PLWA are being treated in these poverty- stricken villages. Many people in these villages believe that HIV/AIDS is a direct punishment from GOD for heinous crimes committed by the sufferers hence does not call for sympathy. To correct this fallacy and many more, a series of grassroots enlightenment programmes on protecting and promoting the rights of PLWA became most ideal. This paper is based on personal experiences as HIV./AIDS volunteer worker over eight years among the POOREST of the poor in Lagos and Owerri of Nigeria and also as a member of the National Committee of the United Nations International Year of Volunteers (IYV 2001)/ Focal Person, IYV 2001 Imo State Chapter.

ISSUES: Through series of grassroots educational programmes on Human Rights of PLWA, the stigmatization has reduced remarkably. RECOMMENDATION: This research recommends that practice and appropriate models for protecting and promoting the human rights of PLWA be established and applied to other villages with similar discriminatory tendencies.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Human Rights, Taboo, HIV Infections, United Nations, Public Health, Health Services Needs and Demand, Poverty, Health Resources, Nigeria, HumanKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,humanrights,taboo,hivinfections,unitednations,publichealth,healthservicesneedsanddemand,poverty,healthresources,nigeria,human

020707
G12558

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.