HIV/AIDS: Jonathan signs Anti-Discrimination law

President Goodluck Jonathan has signed the HIV
and AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act 2014, a reflection
of Nigeria’s commitment to stopping all forms of
stigmatisation and discrimination targeted at
people living with HIV.
A release signed by Chief Communications Officer,
National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Mrs. Toyin
Aderibigbe, notes that the legislation makes
provisions for the prevention of HIV-related
discrimination and provides for access to health
care and other services.
“It also provides for protection of the human rights
and dignity of people living with HIV and those
affected by AIDS in Nigeria,” it adds.
The new law is a source of renewed hope that all
acts of discrimination such as recruitment and
termination of employment, denial of access to
services such as health care, education,
association and other social services will be
reduced and ultimately ended.
The law is the latest addition to Nigeria’s
commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
During the past four years alone, about four million
pregnant women were tested for HIV and now
know their status, while 8.2 million adults in the
general population were tested.
By 2013, the number of HIV infections had declined
by 35 per cent and Nigeria is currently pursuing
efforts to stop new infections altogether. The
number of sites providing services to prevent
mother-to-child transmission of HIV increased
from 675 in 2010 to 5,622 in 2013.