Nigeria: Noa, Naca collaborates to strengthen awareness on HIV/AIDS

Nigeria: Noa, Naca collaborates to strengthen awareness on HIV/AIDS

Abuja (Reporter Core) The National Orientation Agency (Noa) is collaborating with the National Agency for the control of the AIDS (Naca), to sensitize and fight the stigma that surrounds the human immune virus (HIV) and has acquired the deficiency syndrome of Immuno (AIDS) in Nigeria. This is in an attempt to create greater awareness of the disease.

The general manager of Noa, Mallam Lanre Issa-Sylilu, while addressed to the Naca delegation in a courtesy visit at the NOA headquarters in Abuja, assured them the readiness of the Agency to design a new national awareness campaign, emphasizing the critical role of public awareness in facing the threat of HIV/other aids.

ISSA-ILLU has declared that Noa will take advantage of its vast communication infrastructure which includes 818 offices all over the country, 774 offices of the local government and also collaborates with 198 radio stations with 40 television stations in the six geopolitical areas in Nigeria. ISSA-HONLIU has added that the Agency will explore its influencers on social media, animation, press medium (The Explaker), its internal TV and radio studies to improve awareness.

Although reflecting on the recent decline of international funding for the HIV/AIDS program by the United States government, the general manager has implied the Naca to explore innovative local strategies for sustainable intervention, ensuring them the incessant support of Noa in achieving their shared objective of a well -informed company without stigma.

ISSA-HONILIU also stressed that while once the communication based on fear was effective in facing the epidemic, there is a new approach to avoid stigma and disinformation, noting that the HIV/AIDS should be seen as a health condition that managed as hypertension and diabetes, rather than a death sentence.

Previously, the general manager of the Naca, dr. Temitope Ilori had said that the HIV/AIDS still remains public health concerning in particular among young people who underestimate its existence due to the success of the treatment program that has reduced the feasible cases of full -blown aids, underlining the urgency to improve public awareness and the communication of behavioral change to combat and promote prevention.

He applauded the robust presence of Noa throughout the country and his effective use of traditional and social media to reach all of Nigeria, exhorting the agency to support Naca in the dissemination of accurate information on the preventions and treatment of HIV/AIDS while actively fighting stigma and discrimination.

While raising concerns about the growing influence of disinformation on social media, Ilori observed that Nigeria must take full property of its response to HIV, strengthens collaborations with government agencies such as Noa, in guaranteeing sustainability and effective public lighting on infectious disease.