LUCY ATTAH ENYIA; Living as an HIV Positive Person for more than 20 years, A Nigerian Woman/Wife/Mother and National Coordinator of Society for Children and Women of Hope shares her personal story and calling on Nigerian government to improve Health Systems and Care/Support for persons living with HIV/AIDS in an interview with KAYODE GOMES

Following the just concluded National HIV Prevention Conference 2016 in Nigeria, which is first of its kind and to commemorate the World AIDS Day 2016; There is need for advocates and activists to give visibility into the lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS and to bring to light the ills/challenges facing Nigeria’s health sector especially in the area of HIV Treatment, Care and Support systems. Lucy’s story and concern is one of its kind;

What has been your Motivation Advocating for Women and Children living with HIV/AIDS?

I’m motivated because I’m a mother 3 children. When I tested positive to HIV; I thought it was the end of life, later I felt if I can live and have 3 children who are all negative, then I can and should encourage others. My first son is 15 years, My second child is 12 and the little one is 4 years, so that is motivation for me and to actually continue the good work I’m doing and also having gone through stigma and discrimination when I tested positive newly, I was able to overcome it and said ok, so HIV is not death sentence and today I live to tell the story.

Your activism has been for how long?

I’ve been doing this for almost 15 years but I tested positive 20 years ago, so I’ve been doing the fight for 15 years now.

Tell us about your organization?

Society for children and women of hope is network of women actually set up to give hope to women and children living with HIV/AIDS. We advocate for rights and live positively just like every other human being in the society. We want to see a country where vulnerable groups, women & girls, children, female sex workers, injection drug users, sexual minorities, orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV/AIDS are given equal rights and privileges like every other person in the society. I personally have passion to advocate for increase of funding in our health system. 14.13% is very small, we are not able to take care of our health institution or challenge with this kind of budget. And you can see that out of the 14.13%, 3.7% is already allocated to current expenditure while 11.6% allocated for capital project, you can see that what they allocate for main issues/project is minimal. If the health budget is like this, then how much will they contribute for HIV/AIDS. For us in Nigeria, HIV response contribution is 25%, while donor driven is 75%; we really can’t achieve much with these, it is not acceptable.

My experience of child birth (2^nd Child) in U.S health care was really impressive, they bring my drugs home and that’s why people are surviving there. Here in Nigeria, people are not adhering to treatment because they have to pay a lot of Money. Some Women are poor, they cannot really access care, they end up not able to pick their drugs sometimes and then sometimes they go to the hospital but the bottle neck is too much, you will see 4 doctors attending to 400 patients, which is not professional, not possible. So this are challenges. When children are failing on drug, they won’t know because the health care systems are not equipped enough to know, that is why a lot of children die as a result of HIV related opportunist infections.

Tell us about your Kids and Husband’s HIV status

My 3 kids are negative, my 1^st (previous) husband is positive while my 2^nd (current) husband is Negative.

Tell us a little about yourself; Background

Yes… I’m Lucy Attah, a graduate of BSc in Public Admin and I’m passionate about the work I do. As a person living with HIV, I live to tell my story about living positive because being positive is not the end of life and I also live to tell the experience I had. When I had my first baby, the stigma and discrimination was so high to the extent that I was left with turned virginal for good 5hrs, I almost passed on if not for the grace of God that I’m alive today to tell the story, this is negligence. Negligence is one of the major reason we have high death rate among pregnant women in Nigeria. I’m passionate to see how HIV/AIDS can be eliminated in Nigeria, how people living with HIV/AIDS can be well taken care of because we deserve to live a productive life just like any other person.

So how has it been living with HIV for the past 20years?

Well I thank God because I’ve been able to overcome the fear and psychological trauma which I went through years back. And I use this work I do to assist other people living with HIV/AIDS because it’s not easy living with it. For me I’ve been able to overcome but what about the newly infected, it’s quite traumatising, so we are here to give them hope to tell them that if I’m able to live… you also can live, it’s not the end of life. It’s just that up till today we have many challenges; like I have been trying to do my CD4 count but not able to do because they will tell you the regiment has finished, there are many challenges not making us adhere to treatment. So many bottle necks because sometimes you go to the hospital and if you not able to do some of those test, they won’t give you your drugs and then the payment PLHIV community are paying is a big challenge. You go to hospital, they ask you to pay N5000…N3000….N2000, doctor service charge and all of that, at the end of the day it’s quit frustrating, and people don’t have money. Before, when we have full support to work on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, a lot of things were ok, you go to treatment center, you receive care, and you have someone that will follow you up on home base care. Not this days, nothing like that again. This are challenges and then those children that are positive is also a problem. No Nigerian child deserve to be born with HIV/AIDS for crying out loud! The Nigerian government should take care of our children. Government should make provision to take care of our pregnant women. A young girl seating here beside me tested positive to HIV/AIDS, she doesn’t have money, she went for antenatal care, and they said to her; “look if you don’t have money for payment go” and she left. She decide to go for tradition birth attendant and after giving birth at TBA center, the baby died after few days. So care in this country is quite frustrating. And for us as women, statistically is reported that out of the 3.5million people living with HIV in Nigeria, the women are almost 2million, and then 400,000 children living with HIV already, so it’s quite high. All this challenges should be eliminated or stopped.

 

How did you discover your HIV status?

I discovered my HIV status when I went for antenatal care, it was there I was tested positive.

What are your regrets and hopes?

As a Christian I don’t have regret, whatever condition I find myself I just thank God because God knows why. Like being positive, God has used me to touch a lot of lives he has used me to set up groups across the 37 cities in Nigeria. I see the HIV fight I do as a calling from God so I don’t have any regrets because God knows why it should be so. The only regret is that the health care system in Nigeria is zero, it is very bad. I regret to be a Nigerian for that reason, I must tell you the truth. It makes me cry day and night, I ask myself why I am a Nigerian because the care and love is not there. You go to other countries, you receive care and love but in a country like Nigeria it’s like you are forcing yourself to live. A country where the big/rich are separated from small, average and poor citizens. The rich ones take the money they have looted to take care of themselves abroad. Those that are HIV positive access their care abroad while the people here in Nigeria have to wait 8hrs in the hospital to take drugs, it’s unacceptable, and that stress shouldn’t be. My hope is for HIV to have cure, if HIV have a cure, I will be fulfilled and I also want to see that Nigerian women/mothers no longer give birth to HIV positive children and those tested positive should live a healthy life like every other person.

What are the perceptions of your family and friends about you?

My friends are wonderful, they don’t discriminate against me and then we live fine, we cook together, eat together, go to one another’s houses, it’s just normal and you know when you are living ok and healthy why will people avoid you? I’m not sick, I’m healthy. My family is informed about my status, they are aware and we are one.

Have you encountered any form of stigma/discrimination? How were you able to handle it ?

Yes I have, it was more of self-inflicted stigma. I stigmatized myself, asked myself so many questions, why me and all of that. But that was then. I have overcome it like I said earlier.

What do you think about Nigerian Gov and HIV?

Nigerian gov generally should increase funding for health, we should start from that and then Nigeria should take ownership, why do we always wait for people to come, they won’t give you the best, you continue begging and begging western donors, you go to Ministry of health, they tell you they don’t have common printer and you ask yourself if budgets allocated are not released to this people to implement. They should release budget and monitor it. Let the budget and funding get to the grassroots that needs them, let the health system work!

How has it been accessing health care services after all you already mentioned.

If not that I love Nigeria I would have just relocated abroad and leave this country for good. But the work is not yet done, I can’t leave. We need to stay and take care and assist people, so that is it. Accessing health services in Nigeria especially HIV related cases is terribly bad.

You advice to people living with HIV/AIDS

My advice is that you live your life. I’ve been living with HIV for more than 20 years now. Just live your life normal and try as much as possible to get yourself empowered with information and economic empowerment so that you can live a good life for yourself and your children.

Advice for those that are Negative

Remain negative by taking precautions because it’s not easy being positive though, so remain negative and if you cannot abstain from sex which is one of the most common transmission mode, use condom. Because the challenges of living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is not easy to cope with, it’s quite frustrating.

Tell us about the Aspirin Social Innovative Award

Because I’m an ASHOKA fellow, I was nominated by ASHOKA and I hope to get the Award because I’m qualified for it, I’ve been working for it and I pray that I get the award, it comes with voting. So we need people to vote in other to support the work we do. The deadline for voting is Friday, 2^nd December 2016. You can find the voting link below and I really appreciate all those that will take time out to vote.

Aspirin Social Innovative Award; Please Vote….. WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF HOPE, Nigeria. Combat stigmatization and discrimination of women and children with HIV/AIDS by providing education, health care services and economic empowerment. Please click the link below to vote, every single vote counts….

http://aspirin-social-awards.org/nominations/2016-women-and-children-of-hope

My motivation to speak out as a Lesbian comes from the pain I felt as a human being, says; Lawrencia Ameh "lolo" in an Interview with Kayode Gomes….

Can we meet you?

My name is Lawrencia Ameh but I like to be called lolo. I am an openly out lesbian. I am a human rights defender and a paralegal. 

Tell us about your background - growing up

I grew up in a military home with a very religious mother and an army general as a father. I am the first of 4kids. I also had a very reserved childhood. I have lived in Abuja all my life, I was born in Abuja. I was involved in a lot of sports as a child especially basketball. I have 2 younger sisters and a younger brother. 

So you mentioned being an openly out Lesbian. When and how did you discovered/identified yourself?

Well, as a child I always knew I was different, but I couldn't explain it. I came to terms with my Sexuality during my first  degree in Law at University of Abuja. It came with a lot of personal struggles, but in 2007 I was able to deal with it. I was outted to my family by my brother. My family always suspected I was gay because in secondary school I was suspended a lot for being a lesbian with no evidence of course.... Lol! It was because I had always been a tomboy,  so a lot of people just assume. It was a crazy experience but I got through it. 

So do you have any affection/attraction for the opposite Sex?

No I don't. I did try to experiment but I ended up freaking out. Lol! It's not my thing. 

So how did your family take your coming out and how has it been so far with your family and friends?

Hmmm! It was and still not a good experience. 

Can you share some of your challenging experiences?

My relationship with my mum is nonexistent right now, It’s been one hell of a ride, I was taken to church for deliverance. I had to move out of my house, I was beaten by my mum. I lost a lot of privileges from my Family. My dad is the love of my life, so his always going to be in myself, he loves me just the way I am. My mum went to my work place to threatening my Boss, She threaten my friends as well. I was locked in a church for almost 8 days; I was told I had an evil spirit inside me. I was also told I have been delivered of the spirit of lesbianism. I was a lot of drama, I got to a point I almost took my own life. Thank God a friend of mine found me. 

You mentioned your Dad is the love of your life and going to be in yourself, Can you break it down?

He has always been very supportive of everything I do; He encourages me a lot to be someone great, He always say am his pride and joy "Blushes". He always says I shouldn't let anyone treat me differently because am a woman. He lives here in Abuja. Oh! He is the best father ever. His been a hands on dad, 100%, He is my support system. 

How has it been living in an unfriendly environment, in the midst of family, friends and society that doesn't respect/accept your Sexual Orientation and Identity?

It's been crazy you know? You walk on the street and people call you Names, ask if you have a Dick, if you are into sports or music. You have people ask you why you prefer women to men. Some men will say if they have sex with you; you will forget about women. You have some calling you an abormination. Some friends don't want to hangout with you because they can't be seen with you. Family force you to get married or you will be disowned. It's been so much to deal with. I got to a point I almost took my own life. 

But have you ever faced harassment or assault as a result of Anti - LGBT laws (Religious/Federal)?

No, not really, I haven't, I was harassed by a law enforcement agent once, but as soon as he found out who I was he let me go, you know how things work in Nigeria. In the aspect of religion I am not religious, so not really, I have only faced harassment from family and friends. 

Does it mean that its individuals that are not influential that face harassment from law enforcement agency as regards Anti LGBT laws?

No oh… of course not, it happened just once; Only God knows what will happen the next time. But have I faced law enforcement harassment as regards to the anti gay law? Personally no. I have managed to stay out of harm’s way. I know where to be and where not to be.

So what exactly has motivated you to speak out as a Lesbian?

Like I said before; as a child I knew I was different, I struggled with it a lot, I was humiliated a lot by my very close family members and friends, I went into depression and almost took my own life, I was called a demon, I was told by family members that I was the cause of all the problems in my Family. When I was in SS2, I was locked in the church for 8days because they were trying to cleanse me of lesbianism. I was beaten by my mum, I was isolated. Depression is common in the lesbian community. A very good friend of mine took her own life because of the struggle of her Sexuality. "My motivation to speak out as a lesbian comes from the pain I felt as a human being", from losing my friend, from trying to make people understand I was born this way. My motivation comes from trying to tell other lesbians going through what I have gone through that they are not alone and they are not abnormal. 

Does your being a Lesbian have anything to do with becoming a Human Rights Defender and a Paralegal?

No not really, I have always had passion for Law, I always wanted to be a lawyer but it surely did contribute to it. 

How has your work as a Human Rights Defender and Paralegal impacted your Community/Peers?

Oh! To the best of my knowledge it's been a great work. They come to me at anytime they want or call me. They feel safe and free to talk to me. And it makes me very happy. 

What can you tell us about the lesbian community generally?

A lot of work needs to be done in and for the lesbian community. The gay community takes all of the attention because it is said that they are most at risk. It's a lot, so you have to be a lil more specific. 

What are the struggles of the Lesbian Community; Security, Health, Relationships, Social well-being and Risk in General?

We have a lot of all these struggles. You know people believe that the lesbians are at low or no risk of all this threats which is not true. When it comes to HIV, we are at lower risk than MSM yes, but we are at risk too. We have a lot of issues with rape, corrective rape, security issues, forced marriages and so on, but we are given little or no attention, which I think isn't fare. We are not even considered as KP. Like really I don't get it! We have no one to turn to; it’s always about the MSM and Others. It's high time the lesbian community get noticed. We deal with a lot of issues such as; domestic violence, depression, drug abuse, violation of rights and many more. But there's no avenue to report these issues and get help. You can't pay attention to just one particular group and forget about the others. A lot of research needs to be carried out in the lesbian community. We need health interventions. We need security as well. We have transgender and bisexual as well. I know the lesbian community needs visibility but we have to start from somewhere. 

Really excited we finally have someone speaking out for the lesbian community.

Well, someone needs to speak out…You know, It's getting out of hand. 

But is it true that one of the reasons why lesbians are not recognized is because they have refused to come out or because they are not visible. How can visibility be possible especially in a hostile environment such as Nigeria?

That's why I said we need to start from somewhere. Some of us are ready to speak out and be visible no matter how small we are, it needs to be done. 

So what are the immediate needs of the Lesbian Community and how can they be visible?

A needs assessment needs to be done. A proper research should be done. The lesbian community should also be involved in all KP activities.

Are there other issues, topics or areas you want us to consider or discuss?

Well, I will like to see a society were all lesbians have adequate access to health care services, legal services, security and a lot more. They need trainings on gender identity and expression, even on sexual reproductive health, HIV prevention, treatment and many more. 

Thank you for your time and motivation to speak out

Thank you too. I appreciate you for having it in mind to interview a lesbian lol! And pleased you guys are thinking about us now. Lol!

Lesbians are women who have sex with women and have attraction for other women. This group also have Transgender, Bisexuals and Intersex. They are all LGBTI inclusive and should be recognized as such. All LGBTI including Lesbians face hostility, rejection, discrimination, stigma, unlawful arrest/detention, criminating laws and all sort of human rights violation in about 78 countries including Nigeria which is against our God given rights.

Nigeria: Harsh Law’s Severe Impact on LGBT Community

Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013 (SSMPA) has made a bad situation much worse for Nigeria’s beleaguered lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The law has led to an increase in extortion and violence against LGBT people and imposed restrictions on nongovernmental organizations providing essential services to LGBT people in Nigeria.

 “The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act effectively authorizes abuses against LGBT people,” said Wendy Isaack, LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “While Human Rights Watch found no evidence that anyone has been prosecuted under the SSMPA, its impact has been far-reaching and severe.”

The report is based on in-depth interviews conducted between October 2015 and April 2016 with 73 LGBT people and 15 representatives of Nigeria-based nongovernmental organizations in Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan. Human Rights Watch research indicates that since January 2014, there have been rising incidents of mob violence, with groups coming together to attack people based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan passed the law, even though same-sex activity between consenting adults was already illegal and activists had not been advocating legalization of same-sex marriage. The law provides for prison terms of 14 years for anyone who enters a same-sex marriage or civil union and is so vague that “civil union” could include any form of intimate co-habitation.

The law also punishes establishing, supporting, and participating in gay organizations and public displays of affection with 10 years in prison.

The passage of the law was strongly opposed by domestic, regional, and international human rights groups, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. On February 5, 2014, Commissioner Reine Alapini-Gansou, the African Commission’s special rapporteur on human rights defenders in Africa, voiced concern about “physical violence, aggression, arbitrary detention and harassment carried out against human rights defenders dealing with sexual minority rights issues” in the wake of the law.

“Basically, because of this law the police treat LGBT people in any way that they please,” said an Abuja-based leader of a nongovernmental group. “They torture, force people to confess and when they hear about a gathering of men, they just head over to make arrests.”

Punitive legal environments, stigma, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, together with high levels of physical, psychological, or sexual violence against gay men and other men who have sex with men, impedes sustainable national responses to HIV, Human Rights Watch found. When officials or national authorities, including law enforcement officials, condone and commit violence, it leads to a climate of fear that fuels human rights violations. The fear also deters gay men and other men who have sex with men from seeking and adhering to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services.

The law contravenes basic tenets of the Nigerian Constitution and violates several human rights treaties that Nigeria has ratified. In April 2014, the African Commission adopted its groundbreaking resolution 275, calling on governments to prevent and punish all forms of violence targeting people on the basis of their real or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity. In November 2015, the African Commission urged the Nigerian government to review the law, to prohibit violence on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to ensure access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services for LGBT individuals.

Nigerian authorities should act swiftly to protect LGBT people from violence, whether by state or non-state actors. Law enforcement officials should act without delay to stop all forms of abuse and violence against LGBT people, and ensure that LGBT victims of violence can file criminal complaints against their attackers.

The government of Nigeria should repeal the specific provisions of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act that criminalize forming and supporting LGBT organizations and ensure that key populations, including gay men, men who have sex with men, and transgender people have access to HIV services, care, and treatment.

“LGBT people in Nigeria are not advocating for same-sex marriage, but they want the violence to stop and for human rights defenders and organizations that provide services to LGBT people to be able to operate without fear,” Isaack said. “Nigeria should respond to the African Commission’s recommendation to review the law, rather than remaining silent about the human rights abuses LGBT people are facing.”

Source; Human Rights Watch

 https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/10/20/nigeria-harsh-laws-severe-impact-lgbt-community

SPIRITUALITY & RELIGION

From the beginning of creation, religion has been the major problem, the cause of war and crisis, the confusion and misconception. It is the root cause of terrorism.

Religion is institutionalized with human made doctrine and agenda of its own. Religion exploits and blackmail, it preaches in-equality. It promotes Doctrines that are institutionalized. Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices, the belief in and worship of a super human controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Religion is totally different from spirituality.

Spirituality is having personal contact with God. Spirituality makes you have a personal relationship with the divine. It renews your spirit on daily basis and empowers you. Spirituality is a personal conviction. It is a broad concept with room for many perspectives. In general, it includes a sense of connection to something bigger than us, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life. As such, it is a universal human experience that touches us all. Spirituality guides you in taking charge of your health, well being and Rights. The holy books have a lot of human rights principle embedded in it. 

Most religious institutes practice hypocrisy, they judge you and tell you what is right and not, yet they do the worse behind closed does. They preach and still have sexual intercourse with their followers. They play with our minds, manipulate us in the name of religion, they kill innocent souls in the name of religion. They milk their followers in the name of sowing seed. they use the so called seed to build their own empire, mansion and career. They govern religious institute as though it was an investment/business institute, making their relatives and children handle leadership roles. They ask followers to give seed and donation to establish schools the followers cannot afford, they buy private jets and move from air condition to air conditioner. They honor invitation of corrupt leaders, pray for them and collect illegal seed. Yet some people scrub their knee in worship and adoration.

Denomination is the order of the day as religious institute are now business ventures. Again ignorant followers idolize and immortalize these men of God.

Incidentally I came across a handbill while I was compiling this article, and behind it was testimonies; sadly these are some of the content. See below;

TESTIMONIES
 My encounter with Anointing of the Arch Bishop,  Cancer disappeared. 
 My encounter with Anointing of the Arch Bishop. 12 years fibroid vanished.

.

Please let’s use our inner mind to analyze the above content on testimonies. Is it Arch Bishop they give glory to or God almighty? You cannot share in the glory of God.

Until some people realize that it’s by faith and grace that they are healed and prosperous, they will remain being slaves and worshipers of prophets and so called men of God instead of being followers and worshipers of the one who created them.

Don’t allow any religion make you feel vulnerable or not qualified because that is what they do in religious institute. They want to make you feel you are less qualified for God’s blessings; they want to make you feel inferior because of their own superiority complex.

If you are Spirit filled, you will drop a lot of things (bad/wrong habits) by yourself. Don’t allow anyone to tell you to be born again or worship with their religious institute before you can make it in life. Don’t allow anyone brain wash you of deliverance when you can have a personal relationship with your creator. Become a spiritual being and not religious born again. Real spirituality helps you govern your body. Misunderstanding of the holy book is because we don’t study the words, we only listen to what religion says.

Establish a personal relationship with God and not with a religious institute. How we relate with God and humanity is what matters. Don’t allow religious institutes dictate to you what and how to live your life. They can only advice, teach and guide. Not dictate or control. 
No doubt, there are genuine men of God, but very few.

Be Spirit filled, We are here as human, but our spirit lives forever and you can only make your spirit stronger by knowledge and taking care of your body because your body is the temple of God. Spirituality makes one live a good life as models and activist.

Principles of godliness start with equality!

Spirituality is about loyalty and justice!

Reference; Dorothy Aken’Ova

IMPLICATION OF STIGMA & DISCRIMINATION

The fear of being known as HIV positive has made a lot of people decline knowing their status and those confirmed positive prefer to remain in hiding rather than receiving proper care and therapy even when it’s free.

People living with HIV/AIDS battle with stigma and discrimination, how much more when it’s combined with being a sexual minority; it becomes double stigma.
 

As the Global HIV target is counting down to zero, the HIV prevalence among sexual minorities is still facing increase as the environment becomes more unfriendly. In recent findings, it is discovered that Sexual minorities have the highest HIV prevalence which is largely caused by the risky practice most times associated to fear of stigma & discrimination. The potential of risky sexual behavior among sexual minorities is high due to stigma and discrimination attached to same sex affairs. In surveys conducted in Nigeria such as: Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey (IBBSS), we have discovered that while other target groups and general population are experiencing decrease in HIV prevalence, sexual minorities are experiencing increase. Statistics shows that in 2007 - 13.5% prevalence rate was recorded among men who have sex with men in Nigeria and in 2010 we experienced an increase of 17.2%. These have shown that less sexual minorities access health or have access to health. As the environment becomes more unfriendly, the worse is expected. The case of STI cannot be overemphasized as it is more common than HIV/AIDS and more deadly and easily spread.

In Nigeria, sexual minorities are not only facing stigma and discrimination but also suffering from government laws criminalizing the act of choosing ones sexual orientation or gender identity not leaving out societal and religious aspect seeing choice of identity as evil and being perverse. While Sharia law says the act is punishable by death, the federal law says its 14 years imprisonment; victims are subject to mob attack, family rejection, work dismissal and all sort of condemnation. Sexual minorities living with HIV/AIDS now suffer depression as they have to face double stigma and discrimination.

Sexual minorities don’t just practice same sex affairs but some are also in relationships and marriages with the opposite sex which makes the HIV prevalence a larger problem as it affects the general population. if a bisexual living with HIV is married in some cases with more than one wife especially in the Northern part of Nigeria or possibly with multiple partners and he is faced with stigma and discrimination including fear of being criminalized, he will not only spread the virus within the community, but also among his sex partners and/or family because the unfriendly environment would not make him check to know his status neither would he want anyone to know his status as he pretends about his sexuality as well. So if we look at it critically, stigma and discrimination causes huge problem and negative impact to the society at large. The criminalizing and unfriendly environment is causing more harm with no good. Everyone is affected… Everyone is a victim.

Aside stigma and discrimination being one of the major factors of High HIV prevalence rate, what about our rights as human being, why criminalize or crucify someone who has done you no harm.

I will give you a true life story;

“A Nigerian Bisexual young man discovered he was HIV positive, he didn’t know how to inform his family/friends about his status for fear of the unknown. Along the line he was arrested as a suspected homosexual after a friend that was caught and tortured exposed him. Luckily he was bailed and asked to return home after torture in the police cell. Unfortunately for him before he got back home, his parents and siblings already heard what happened. He was sent out of the house as he had no choice than to run to a friend to give him shelter for some time. He later lost his job after confiding in a colleague that he was HIV positive. Due to the depression caused by the stigma and discrimination he was facing on both side (home and work place) he made up his mind to commit suicide. The friend that sheltered him working with a Health/Advocacy organization counseled and advised him to work with them as a volunteer. An international organization sent out an application to support LGBT persons living with HIV/AIDS and that are currently facing difficult situation. He applied and was luckily selected. The last time I heard of him, he is studying in one of the best university in the world, currently working with an international organization helping others at risk and in depression. Living in a comfortable apartment and now breadwinner of the same family that rejected him”.

A lot of lessons learnt from this story; I will leave you to digest and dissect it yourself.

It's awful when people send hate messages; it’s funny that people celebrate the prosecution and crucification of others. It is so pathetic that people celebrate Hate/Terrorist attack saying it is God’s judgment. I’m glad to disappoint them that God’s judgment is not hateful/wicked.

What would you say about a Hermaphrodite with both private parts “dual gender identity”; (food for thought).

Let our heart be filled with Adoration for our creator and Love & Respect for Humanity & Environment…Dorothy Aken’Ova

Stigma and Discrimination causes serious negative impact on the victim and society at large. It affects the effort of the Global target to bring HIV to zero. We need to embrace Sexual Health & Rights.

Stop the Stigma and Discrimination! Reverse the Hate laws and habit! Promote Human Rights and Respect for Diversity & Equality! Let’s Love and Be Loved!