PROGRAMME TITLE: THE WAY WE ARE
BROADCAST DATE: MAY 13, 2006           
BROADCAST TIME: 1815 HRS
PRESENTER: MONISOLA AJIBOYE
PRODUCER: ‘MUYIWA OJEKUNLE

ESTABLISH SIGNATURE TUNE, HOLD & FADE UNDER VOICE

STIGMA EXPERIENCE BY PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)

(SIGHS HEAVILY)  In 2003, a nursing sister in Owerri on learning that she was HIV positive decided that what is best is to take her own life. Two weeks after her result was disclosed to her, she committed suicide. She hanged herself in her room. Last year, a middle aged woman jumped out of the window of her ward when she saw doctors approaching with the result of her test. She did not live to know what the result was, whether negative or positive. Also last year, a student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) was relieved of his admission because he confessed to be HIV positive, he was later readmitted after much public outcry. These and other incidences have trailed the knowledge that someone is HIV positive.
What we must realize is that the fear of discrimination prevents people from disclosing their HIV positive status and also prevents them from accessing treatment. People with, or suspected of having HIV have been shunned by their friends and colleagues, sometimes families, they have been turned away from health care services, denied housing and employment, and generally refused insurance. In some instance, they have been evicted from their homes, places of worship and several have been divorced by their spouses. The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS mirrors societal understanding of this disease and to a larger extent shows that as a people we still lack information about this condition.
Hello and welcome to THE WAY WE ARE, a 15minutes enlightenment programme on HIV/AIDS. May has been chosen as the stigma season, a time to look at the impact that stigmatization is having on efforts at curtailing the impacts of HIV/AIDS. I am MONISOL Ajiboye. To look at this issue with me today is/are ……………….

BRING UP SIG. TUNE, HOLD & FADE UNDER VOICE

The issue of stigma and its attendant discrimination of HIV positive individuals is hampering efforts geared towards curtailing the spread and impacts of this disease. Stigmatization is responsible for those who remain in denial about their status. Several people have preferred to die in silence and majority of our people will rather dodge the opportunities for Voluntary Counseling and testing (VCT). To many, a positive HIV result is like a death sentence. Several people who have tested positive don’t return for treatment, yet, more and more, HIV has become manageable with positive people able to live meaningful and productive life.

Why do we stigmatize against positive persons? Do you know that discrimination against those living with HIV or those thought to be infected violates their rights as individuals? Do you also know that stigmatization and discrimination are obstacles to effective treatment and care of people with HIV/AIDS?

We all know that HIV does not discriminate, so why should we? What I am saying in essence is that anyone, including you can become infected. If you are not infected you are affected. Rarely is there a town in Nigeria without the incidence of HIV. Importantly, especially for those who stigmatize, how many of you actually know your status? How many of you have gone to conduct an HIV test? If you don’t know where you stand, why should you discriminate?

You’re still on to THE WAY WE ARE on YOUTHMAG and you too can be heard by dialing …………………… our no. once again is …………… or better still, send an sms to 0802-310-9403.  Now, …………………… will you mind sharing you’re experience with us. (RESPONSE)
However, we must continue to encourage people to break the silence and to combat the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.
That’s how it’s been on THE WAY WE ARE today. Hope you’ve been enlightened. Do keep a date with us next week for another package. THE WAY WE ARE has been a MUYIWA OJEKUNLE production in collaboration with the Positive youths Association of Nigeria and NigeriaHIVinfo.com (www.nigeriahivinfo.com).

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