Changing attitudes to HIV/AIDS in northern Nigeria
The Society for Family Health (SFH), Actionaid International Nigeria and
Population Services International are jointly implementing a seven-year DFID
supported program, Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health for HIV/AIDS
reduction (PSRHH).
The project (branded "Make We Talk") will help to create, strengthen and support the adoption of healthy reproductive and HIV prevention behaviours among those most at risk of infection, working at the community level in selected sites in Nigeria. While most of the program efforts have been directed at preventing new infections, the adoption of protective behaviour by high risk groups has led to more people getting tested for HIV.
Ultimately, program beneficiaries who tested positive came back for support and to access treatment services.
The majority of those who tested positive were afraid of publicly disclosing their status and delayed accessing treatment because of the stigma associated with HIV. However, based on the trust that SFH field teams built amongst them, they were able to form support groups, developed the confidence to seek treatment and subsequently had a collective voice in demanding the right to affordable health care services.
The Hope Initiative (THI) is one such group which emerged in Maiduguri, a conservative city in north eastern Nigeria. The Hope Initiative started as a support group of 50 people providing counselling and talks to people living with HIV and AIDS. It has grown to an organisation of 2,000 people under the tutelage of the PSRHH team, providing national radio and television broadcasts as well as continuing the community-based counselling and support group meetings.
Thanks to THI, some have shed the cloak of fear:
Fusam a young lady who was walking with her head and spirit bowed in society has become a bold advocate for persons living with HIV after openly declaring her status during a live television show. She was only able to do this after she joined THI; she realized that there was still a life after being diagnosed as HIV positive.
"The day I came to the SFH office I was shy, angry, and fearful. I was afraid of people" she confesses.
Fusam did not want to admit to her status, but was won over by the sense of comradeship at THI:
"Sitting among women and even men discussing our problems made a real difference and I resolved to tell the world I was positive".
Mr Hassan, a member of THI, was diagnosed positive in June 2000. He said:
"The Hope Initiative has really helped me in fighting against self stigma,
gave me sense of belonging, I also found out I am not the only person living
with the virus but a lot of people are infected and it has created an avenue for
social interaction as people amongst the group are getting married and we are
attending naming ceremonies. Presently my wife and I are infected but our three
children are not."
Key facts
- Nigeria, the largest and most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the countries worst affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge.
- The spread of HIV/AIDS has been rapid since the first case was diagnosed in 1986, with the adult HIV prevalence increasing from 0 percent in 1986 to 1.8% in 1991, but rising to 5.8% in 2001 before falling slightly to 5% in 2003 and 4.4% in 2005.
- As the burden of disease increases within a community, individuals are faced with denial, stigma, and discrimination. The stigma and discrimination attached to being diagnosed with AIDS is far greater and significantly different than that linked to being diagnosed with other illnesses such as cancer or psychiatric disorders.
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The Society for Family HealthLast updated: 28 November 2006
