Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria PSN has called on Nigerians to go for regular testing to check to know their HIV/AIDS status.
The Vice-Chairman of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria PSN Rivers State Chapter Donatus Ijezie said this during a radio programme monitored by our correspondent in Port Harcourt on the celebration of 2021 World Aids Day.
Donatus Ijezie who doubles as the Chairman of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Rumuomasi Zone during the programme said HIV is not a death sentence.
He said HIV/AIDS patients can live a normal life when they eat good diets and take their drugs regularly.
”With HIV patients you shake no problem, you can even eat together. The only way you can contract it is through fluid contact. I use the word fluid because is not only blood. Blood contact is there so which means there is a type of kissing you have, you can contract it. Then you can contract it when you come in contact with the semen of an HIV positive patient. But people saying you should stay away from an HIV carrier is a fallacy” he said.
Also speaking, another pharmacist, Charles Asogwa called for an end to the stigmatization of HIV/AIDS patients across the world.
He also advised patients to visit government registered health institutions for treatment and counselling.
In the meantime, a Consultant of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists Dr Eli Sokarime said Nigeria contributes majorly to the number of babies born with HIV.
Dr Eli Sokarime in an event called for regular screening of people to help sustain the progress made so far in the country.
”Recommendation in the prevention of HIV/AIDS is multi-disciplinary, involvement of government and non-governmental organizations. This has to do with sensitization of the populace on the important modalities in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, availability to testing of those that are at risk of HIV/AIDS, availability of highly active retroviral drugs” he said.
