The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Nigeria has dropped from 5.1 per cent to 3.4 per cent, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, has said. The Director General, NACA, Prof. John Idoko, attributed the decrease in the rate of the HIV/AIDS infection in the country to extensive awareness of the virus by Nigerians. Idoko spoke on the HIV/AIDS Anti-discrimination Bill on Monday.
He stated that the HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Bill, which President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law in 2014, had given hope to those living with HIV that they would not be stigmatized when other people were aware of their status.
Idoko, who was represented by the Chief Programme Officer, NACA, Mr. Ali Ade-Yusuf, at the four-day free medical treatment, organised by NACA-Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme in Essien Udim and Ika Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, said the programme targeted 10,000 persons at each of the points.
He revealed that the HIV/AIDS was no longer a life- threatening disease since the people living with the disease could still live their normal lives for a long period.
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