By Obianuju Isima
The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has strengthened its collaboration with the Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS (NINERELA+) to deepen HIV awareness, address misinformation and promote access to prevention, testing, treatment and care across the state.
The Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, said this on Aug. 20, when he received a delegation from NINERELA+ at the agency.
The delegation, led by the Anambra State Coordinator of NINERELA+, Dcns. Ugwu Makuachukwu, included Kabiru Badamosi, Chairman, Muslim Society Anambra State NINERELA+, and Onwumelu Musa Hamza, JNI Chairman, Southeast Muslim Forum.
The engagement focused on using the reach and influence of Christian, Muslim and traditional religious institutions to promote accurate HIV information at the grassroots, tackle stigma and discrimination, and dispel myths that could prevent people from seeking appropriate care.
Dr. Okeke emphasised that faith and spiritual support remain important to many people living with or affected by HIV, but should complement rather than replace evidence-based medical care.
He noted that misinformation and inappropriate spiritual interventions could discourage people from testing, affect adherence to treatment and ultimately compromise health outcomes.
The ANSACA Executive Director called for stronger collaboration with faith leaders to ensure that people receive accurate information and are encouraged to access HIV services without fear, shame or discrimination.
Both organisations agreed to deepen faith based HIV education and community engagement as part of broader efforts to achieve zero new HIV infections and an AIDS free Anambra State by 2030.
The partnership is expected to bring HIV messages closer to communities through trusted religious platforms, helping families and individuals make informed decisions about prevention, testing and treatment.
Obianuju Isima is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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