Spread HIV in Ondo State, Go to Jail for 10 Years, Govt Warns

Ondo State

The Ondo State Government has announced the commencement of the implementation of its HIV anti-stigma law which prescribed a 10-year jail term, fine of N500,000 or both for any person who by whatever means transmits HIV to another person.

Giving details of the law which was signed last year, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the state Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola, stated that the stigmatisation and discrimination discourages individuals infected with and affected by HIV from accessing health and social services, hence, the law stipulates further that anybody who discriminates against people living with HIV commits an offence and is liable to fine of N100,000 or imprisonment of six months or both.

Speaking in Akure yesterday, while delivering a keynote address at a sensitisation programme to facilitate and ensure the enforcement of a law for the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS, Adelola said most times, the rights of people living with HIV are violated, causing them to suffer both the burden of the disease and the consequential loss of other rights.

He stated that stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with the virus may obstruct their access to treatment and may affect their employment, housing and other rights which he said adversely affect the vulnerability of others to be infected. Also speaking on the law, the state Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said Ondo is the first state in the federation to have a law which addresses many aspect of HIV response to law and will help promote public awareness about causes, modes of transmission, consequences, means of prevention and control of HIV transmission, through a comprehensive education and information campaign.

He added that the law is also expected to extend to every person infected with HIV full protection of his human rights and civil liberties, positively address and seek to eradicate conditions that aggravate the spread of HIV infection, including but not limited to poverty, marginalisation, prostitution, drug abuse and ignorance.

It will also promote utmost safety and universal precautions in practices and procedures that carry the risk of HIV transmission.