The Scourge of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

HIV/AIDS was first discovered in a 13 years old girl in Nigeria in 1986 after it was been carefully and scientifically diagnosed in the United States of America.

The public took the news with levity and a nonchalant attitude when in the early 80's a disease condition, which destroys or renders powerless the immune system of the baby, was discovered in the northern part of the country.

Moreover, when it was discovered among the military and ex-military men, it was taken to be another kind of blood disease that cannot be contacted through sexual intercourse. Consequently, all military and servicemen were tested with care for confirmation, and this led to a great clean up in most of the barracks in the northern Nigeria. Unlike sickle-cell anemia which only lives in the blood cell and destroys the bone marrow, HIV/AIDS destroys the blood cell and eats up the infested person's inner layers of flesh which makes him/her grow thinner and thinner.

In accordance with the lecture delivered by Dr. Dugenia on the 18^th day of July 2006, at the Alvan College of Education Auditorium, she gave a statistical increase of this disease and disclosed that the percentage increase (of about 1.8%) of people leaving with HIV and AIDS was recorded in the year 1991. More so she said the percentage increased to 3.8% in 1993 and to 4.5% in 1999. In conclusion, she said a total of 5.4% has been affected till the year 2002 when it was recorded 6%.

It is a known fact that the scourge of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria is eating deeply into the fabrics of the Nigerian nation. Lives of many Nigerians have been shattered, hopes and future smoldered, as thousands of people who are getting infected on a daily basis are youths the tomorrow leaders of the country. Even with the large publicity given to people about the disease, the number of people getting infected is still on the increase and seems the awareness by the media is not effective and efficient enough. This consequence has an immense implication for Nigeria as a nation either economically or developmentally. If the people especially the youths of the nation are left without adequate care, it will be a great loss that is immeasurable to the development of Nigeria as a nation.

Again, information gathered through research from the internet and the mass media have shown the coherent dangers of this scourge in the countries higher institution of learning. From the statistical report so far, 10 out of every 300 students on campuses are HIV positive. This trait could be traced to the obscenities demonstrated by campuses where ladies and even some men dress in provocative manner, displaying their sexuality under the feeling of "big girls and guys", thereby leading to promiscuity. Due to unprotected sex in no time at all, the victims in question are already infected.

In addition, the general poverty in Nigeria due to adulterated politics and political instability has contributed immensely to careless living of people who would rather die in HIV and AIDS in exchange for sex and money. This has given rise to ladies with promising future to engage in prostitution in order to live a comfortable life. But poverty should never be a reason to be a victim of this killer disease.

The United Nations should review and examine their role to ameliorate the spread of HIV and AIDS through their initiative programmes specially managed and treated by them (i.e. not by the government agencies). Peace loving nations should help in the fight to help educate people on HIV and AIDS why well to do countries should help fight against bad leadership which will in turn better the standard of living in the Nigerian nation. In the same vein, educative programmes must be cherished on the media to replace completely obscene movies and event and on that, culture and tradition must be taught in the country's institutions of learning with the native language to help fix back the minds of the citizen who have loved foreign culture to origin.