ANSACA, NINERELA+ Deepen Faith-Based Collaboration to Combat HIV Myths and Stigma‎

ANSACA, NINERELA+ Deepen Faith-Based Collaboration to Combat HIV Myths and Stigma
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By Chizoba Njaka 

‎The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has renewed its partnership with the Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS (NINERELA+) to expand HIV awareness, tackle misinformation and reduce stigma across the state.
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‎The Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, disclosed this on Thursday, August 20, when he received a delegation from NINERELA+ at the Agency. The delegation was led by the Anambra State Coordinator of NINERELA+, Dcns. Ugwu Makuachukwu, and included Kabiru Badamosi, Chairman of the Muslim Society Anambra State NINERELA, and Onwumelu Musa Hamza, JNI and Chairman of the Southeast Muslim Forum.
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‎The meeting centred on ways religious institutions can use their influence within communities to promote HIV education, encourage testing and treatment, and address stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
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‎The stakeholders also discussed the need to tackle myths and misinformation about HIV, particularly at the grassroots level, by strengthening collaboration with Christian, Muslim and traditional religious leaders.
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‎Dr. Okeke acknowledged the importance of faith and spiritual support to many individuals but emphasised that such support should complement evidence-based HIV prevention, treatment and care.
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‎He warned that misinformation and inappropriate spiritual interventions could discourage people from seeking HIV testing, affect adherence to treatment and ultimately lead to poor health outcomes.
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‎Both ANSACA and NINERELA+ reaffirmed their commitment to expanding faith-based HIV education and community engagement as part of efforts to achieve Zero New HIV Infections and an AIDS-Free Anambra State by 2030.