FG urged not to jubilate over reduction in HIV/AIDS

A medical sociologist, Dr Ayodele Jegede, has warned the Federal Government not to jubilate over the reduction in the national average of HID/AIDS which dropped from 4.6 to 4.1, just as he advocated integrated approach to drastically reduce the prevalence of dreaded disease in Nigeria.Speaking at a one-day awareness programme for Peer Educators at the grass roots level organised by the Hope and Care Community Health Initiative (HOPECOM) in Ibadan on Saturday, Dr Jegede said that more funds should be appropriated to fight HIV/AIDS.He noted that many states including Oyo were recording upsurge in the cases of HIV/AIDS signaling that more needed to be done to reach more people through peer education at the community level.Dr Jegede who condemned the isolation of sister diseases in the current programme aimed at reducing the upsurge of HIV/AIDS, said only an integrated approach of disease control could further reduce the prevalence of AIDS in Nigeria.While reacting to the alarm raised by the Commissioner for Health in Oyo State over the incidence of AIDS in the state, Dr Jegede asked the state government to use the integrated approach by deemphasising the importance of one disease over the order.According to him, programmes aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS should integrate the treatment of Tuberculosis so that the joint effect will be reduced.He faulted the current HIV/AIDS awareness approach which has marginalised the rural populace where the majority of Nigerians reside.He identified poverty, inadequate knowledge about where to test for HIV/AIDS, and sex-for-change as some of the factors influencing the prevalence rate of the epidemic in the state.He called on the Oyo state government to appropriate more funds to the fight against HIV/AIDS and work more with Non-Governmental Organisation whose interest center around the prevention of HIV/AIDS.Speaking, Dr  Adetona Fayemiwo, Consultant Clinical microbiologist and lecturer college of medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, urged  governments at all levels to embark on peer education at the community level to reach the common man which previous attempts to reduce HIV/AIDS have excluded.
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