Abia First Lady calls for elimination of discrimination, stigmatisation against persons with HIV

Wife of Abia state governor Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti says persons living with HIV should not have to endure any form of stigmatisation owing to their health status.

She went on to emphasise that the key population of persons living with the virus have so much to contribute to the development of society and therefore must not suffer discrimination.

She made the call during an interactive meeting with the key population of persons living with HIV drawn from across the seventeen local government areas of the state.

Mrs. Chidinma Otti highlighted the efforts of her husbands administration to domesticate the anti discrimination law against persons with HIV in Abia state.

Available data from the Abia state agency for the control of HIV ABSACA shows that 46,788 persons living with HIV are currently on treatment in the state. Abia ranks sixth on HIV prevalence rate in the country. Key persons living with HIV who attended the event received gift items including cash from Abia first lady.

The meeting also had in attendance the wife of the deputy governor, commissioner for health, commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation, Director of Abia state agency for the control of Aids amongst others.