The Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) organised a candle light memorial to remember HIV/AIDS past heroes. This is what the Coordinator of NEPWHAN have to say;
“We have to do this to remember our past heroes, people who in spite of stigma and discrimination in the early days of AIDS still came out to declare their status. They advocated to the government and demanded for treatment and today we remember them,” said Edward Ogenyi, coordinator of NEPWHAN.
The candle light memorial, meant to remember those who’ve succumbed to the HIV pandemic, draws attention to HIV still being a pressing public health concern and threat to development.
It has adopted the Vision 90-90-90, an ambition to by 2020 ensure 90% of Nigerians know their status and 90% of those positive are placed on treatment in efforts to reduce their viral load by 90%, making them unable to transmit HIV.
This is a policy direction that is even supported by the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
