By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
The Executive Director, Initiative For Grassroot Advancement In Nigeria (INGRA), Hamza Aliyu has said that the proposed bill for the protection of people living with HIV/Aids would provide an institutional legal frameworks for the promotion and protection of rights of Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) in particular and citizens in general.
Speaking on the sideline of the presentation of the proposed bill titled “Kogi state HIV/Aids Anti discrimination Law 2024” noted that these rights include especially the right to privacy and protection of their dignity.
The project is being implemented by Initiative For Grassroot Advancement In Nigeria (INGRA) with support from the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF).
He noted that the move has become necessary because of the observed structural actions by some organization which overtly or covertly tend to discriminate against this categories of persons.
“For instance asking for for the HIV status of a child before he or she is admitted into a school or the HIV status of an individual before he or she is employed is discriminatory.
“If such organization do not for the cancer status of these persons or any other disease for that matter, why the HIV status. This is worrisome. Hamza emphasized.
He explained further that the Kogi State Anti-discrimination law on HIV/AIDS 2024 comprises 31 parts, including introductory, interpretation, offenses, and contravention of the law, along with provisions for training and sensitization, among others.
He said “the bill aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework to raise awareness about stigma, protect the dignity and enforce the fundamental human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS in Kogi State.
Stakeholders from the legal department of the State, NGOs, human rights organizations, and other relevant government agencies who participated in the one-day collaborative meeting, emphasized that the bill is important in advancing the 95 95% target for status identification, treatment, and viral suppression to eradicate HIV globally.
The bill is expected to undergo additional scrutiny to ensure perfection in the coming days before official presentation to the State Executive en route to the Kogi State House of Assembly for deliberation and passage.