Essay On Hiv And Aids In Nigeria

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Recommended: Prevention of hiv

Justin Onwenu
Independent Study: HIV Global Public Policy
Adam Frye
3rd Quarter
Nigerian Government Policy Against HIV/AIDS
“With 3.7% of the population infected HIV/AIDS and thousands dying annually it is apparent that Nigeria’s concerns with HIV prevalence are disproportionately greater than that of the rest of the world.” Nigeria’s extreme cultural, socioeconomic, and religious diversity gives it a unique position as a microcosmic country dealing with the spread of HIV/AIDS. Because of its great diversity and similarity among other African nations, any success Nigeria has regarding HIV policy is likely to be duplicated by other nations in Africa and around the world. Over the past decade Nigeria’s policies concerning HIV/AIDS have been polarized. From 2005-2009 Nigeria’s HIV policy placed great emphasis on condom promotion as a method for halting the spread of HIV and preventing unwanted pregnancies. “In 2007 alone, nearly 180 million condoms were distributed through workplace programs, community mobilization, awareness events, health clinics, and through the private sector social marketing programs”. Since this time Nigeria has adopted a new policy for the years 2010-2015. This policy is a multi- pronged attack against the spread of HIV. Its main methods for halting this epidemic include: education and promotion of condom usage, and addressing biological related transmission (“dirty transfusions/needles” and mother to child transmissions). In this essay I will both address and criticize these policies.
Despite the Catholic Church’s new lift on its former ban on condoms, religious conservatives in Nigeria have been fierce opponents to condom usage and promotion by the Nigerian Government. In 2008 The Integrated Regiona...

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...umented that the best and most practical way in preventing HIV transmission is through condom usage. Countries that have adopted widespread condom distribution and education programs have seen the greatest success. Yet, because of a lack of information and religious opposition (despite the pope’s lift of the condom ban) the people of Nigeria are suffering. Furthermore, after examining Nigeria’s national policy on HIV one can conclude that Nigeria is currently putting a lot more emphasis on addressing HIV after transmission (cures/treatments, rights of HIV positive individuals, etc.) instead of a primarily preventative approach. If Nigeria expects to reduce the number of individuals devastated by this awful epidemic it will be important to implement a more preventative and effective policy that will also cater to its unique religious and cultural interactions.

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