Firms may pay N1.5 m penalty over HIV stigmatization and discrimination

Maduako Igbokwe l Friday, 9 September 2022

 

AWKA, Anambra – Any organisation found to be stigmatizing and discriminating against people living with the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in their establishment stands to pay a penalty of N1,500,000.00  in Anambra state.

Similarly, individuals found to have stigmatised and discriminated against people with HIV would be made to pay  penalty to the tune of N500.000.00.

Head of Anambra State Aids Control Agency,  Mr Johnbosco Nkem Ementa made the declaration during a two day Stakeholders Meeting on the fight against HIV/AIDS in the state.

“We have the 2014 HIV& AIDS Anti- discrimination Act which has not been domesticated in Anambra state and we have suggested the sum of N 1.5 million for organizations , firms and corporate bodies and the sum of N500,000 fine for individuals or imprisonment for a period not less than 1 year or to both such fine and imprisonment.

“The Act would soon be before the Anambra state House of Assembly and would go through the necessary processes so that it can become part of Anambra state law for it to have the much needed legal bite”, he said.

Continuing,  Mr Ementa noted that the 2018 Nigeria AIDS Indicator  and Impact Survey result  indicates a national HIV prevalence in Nigeria of 1.4 percent among adults aged fifteen years to forty nine years which is the active population. This result stand as a guide towards creating further awareness targeting people among this age bracket in the state.

“This report has become instructive because it stands as a point of departure for us to step up the prevention activities and also know how best to check mate the spread of HIV /AIDS in Anambra state.