In a renewed effort to combat HIV/AIDS and eliminate stigma, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is partnering the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to intensify awareness campaigns across the country.
Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by NACA’s delegation, NOA’s director general, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to designing a nationwide campaign aimed at educating the public on HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.
He emphasised the importance of public sensitisation in tackling the spread of HIV, reducing stigma, and promoting early detection and treatment.
“NOA will leverage its extensive communication infrastructure, which includes 818 office locations, 774 local government offices, and partnerships with 198 radio stations and 40 television stations across Nigeria,” Issa-Onilu said.
He added that the agency would also utilize social media influencers, animations, print publications (The Explainer), and its in-house TV and radio studios to enhance the campaign’s outreach.
Reflecting on the recent decline in international funding for Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS programs, Issa-Onilu urged NACA to develop sustainable local strategies to ensure continued intervention efforts.
He assured NACA of NOA’s unwavering support in fostering a well-informed, stigma-free society.
He further highlighted the need for a shift in communication strategy, moving away from fear-based messaging to more effective narratives that present HIV/AIDS as a manageable health condition, similar to hypertension and diabetes.
Also, NACA’s Director General, Temitope Ilori, expressed concern over the growing misinformation about HIV/AIDS, particularly among youths who underestimate the virus due to the success of treatment programs that have reduced visible cases of full-blown AIDS.
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