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AIDS is perhaps the most deadly disease that mankind has ever known. Unlike other historic deadly afflictions whose challenge was sufficiency and access to an available cure, HIV/AIDS is only preventable with no known cure at this time. As with most bad situations, Nigeria is lagging in the struggle against HIV/AIDS.
Initially, skepticism centered on whether HIV/AIDS is real, whether the affliction was limited to white foreigners and homosexuals, or whether or not it was mere propaganda. However, with the factual mountain of victim statistics, all myths or doubts about HIV/AIDS should be erased, especially from the Nigerian mind. HIV/AIDS is now one of the leading causes of African deaths.
HIV/AIDS is REAL! Yes, it is REAL!
Every year, the number of Nigerians contracting the disease continues to rise just as HIV/AIDS related deaths continues to increase. Everyday about 1,000 new cases of HIV infection are recorded in Nigeria. This is according to the United Nations Aids program (UNAIDS) conservative report of year 2010.
In 2007, it was estimated that 2.6 million Nigerians were infected with HIV while over 170,000 people died from AIDS in the same year. The life expectancy in the country declined due to the rise of HIV/AIDS cases.
In 1991, the average life expectancy was 53.8 years for women and 52.6 for men. In 2007, these figures had declined to 47.44 for women and 46.94 for men. Even more frightening is that this conservative estimate of daily infected people expects to grow.
Without a doubt, Nigeria is in the midst of the worst epidemic, one that is destroying the youngest and most productive segment of the society. Simply stated, unless the spread of HIV/AIDS is halted, the very future of the most populous black nation on earth as we know it is in serious danger of a generation gap and possible extinction.
OPM sees HIV/AIDS as Nigeria’s premier health crisis against which Nigeria and friends of Nigeria have no luxury of time.
Poor healthcare delivery systems, illiteracy, poverty, irresponsible sexual behavior, ignorance about the disease particularly in the rural communities, increase in prostitution among young females, and other pervasive infrastructure deficiencies further complicate Nigeria’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
The fight against this epidemic should be intense and immediate. Leveraging the support of Nigeria’s friends and self-help, OPM will do the following:
Utilize the instrumentality of OPM Youth Network programs-Teens, Crime and the Community (Community Works), Girl Power, Senior Crime Awareness Initiative, faith-based organizations, public and private educational systems, and community organizations to advance public understanding of the nature, prevention, referrals, and management of HIV/AIDS, and eradicate myths and notions of the disease.
- Facilitate access to properly equip diagnostic treatment
and support centers in Nigerian communities.
- Facilitate the establishment of relevant confidential medical database.
- Procure support for existing medical facilities and initiatives.
- Promote an enhanced system of rural/community healthcare delivery and management.
- Mobilize indigenous Nigerian healthcare professionals in the Diaspora to assist with designing, funding, and equipping the operational capability of healthcare delivery systems in Nigeria.
- Using the mobile clinic healthcare delivery system to reach the rural areas.
- Organize programs to train local healthcare professionals and community leaders using their local language proficiency to communicate to the indigenes on OPM HIV/AIDS program.
- Initiate and promote research efforts on HIV/AIDS and other tropical diseases, including facilitating exposure and attention from the International community to indigenous Nigerian research.
If you would like more information about this program, please contact us.
