IHVN, AMAC urges people living with HIV to live proudly

The Vice Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Cancelled (AMAC), Lawrence Nwachukwu has urged people living with HIV not to hide themselves but come forth and live proudly as the virus is not a death sentence.

Nwachukwu made the call at a press briefing on Friday in Abuja to commemorate the world AIDS day in collaboration with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria.

He said that HIV is not a killer disease and it not a deadly disease as long as you take your drugs, you will live a fulfilled life.

''We are here to tell the people that HIV is not a deadly disease or killer disease or a death sentence to the people living with the virus.

''We are here not just to create awareness but to also remind our people to know their status because its very important to remind them, it is our duty to talk to people about HIV.

''HIV is not a killer disease so people living with HIV should not hide themselves, people should always go for test from time to time, to known their HIV status," he said.

Comfort Ochigbo, Senior Technical Officer IHVN, said that the collaboration with Amac was necessary to ensure access to test and treat for the citizens in Amac.

Ochigbo who noted the theme for this year's World HIV Day as ''right to health'' said that the slogan is ''make it happen".

She said IHVN has been doing a lot of testing within the communities since this year, in line with the sustainable development goal which says that we should have a universal access to health by 2030.

''What we are saying here, is to make sure everyone knows their HIV status and identify possible ways on treatment and follow up to ensure viral suppression.

''We choose to go to the market for this awareness because the market place is a place where everyone goes to and we decided to have a point here in the market for population sake," she added.