By Saminu Ibrahim
Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), Tony Ojukwu Esq. has expressed readiness of the Commission to work with the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in addressing issues affecting people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA’s) in Nigeria.
Ojukwu stated this during a courtesy visit to the Director General of NACA, Dr. Aliyu Gambo in Abuja.
The Executive Secretary commended the Agency for its achievements, saying it has helped in ameliorating the condition of PLWHA’s as well as reducing the spread of the disease.
He said more needs to be done in addressing human rights issues affecting PLWHA’s like stigmatization and discrimination, access to healthcare services, inhuman and degrading treatment and other human rights issues bordering on the mandate of the Commission.
He encouraged NACA to mainstream human rights in to its work, adding that the Commission has its presence in the 36 states of the Federation and is therefore ready to use its strength and spread to work with NACA in reaching out to people whose rights are violated as a result of their health status.
Ojukwu said he looks forward to an MOU with NACA to collaborate especially in areas concerning the rights of PLWHA’s and by extension rights of persons affected by Malaria and Tuberculosis.
Responding, the DG of NACA, Dr. Gambo expressed delight at the gesture of the NHRC, saying stigma and discrimination has become a big challenge for PLWHA’s and persons suffering from Malaria and Tuberculosis.
Gambo said, the services of the Commission remain key in the work of NACA, explaining that the Agency is always in the field working in the hospitals and attending to patients.
The intervention of the Commission in addressing the human rights abuses of PLWHA’s and others will be a great relief to the agency. “We can work with each other to realize our common goals and improve the lots of the less privileged”. Dr. Gambo added.
Director Community Prevention care and support services, Dr. Alex Ogundipe said NACA has confidence in the ability of the Commission to deliver on its mandate.
He made reference to the giant strides of the Commission in its report of human rights violations during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Ogundipe urged the Commission to use the same vigour to address the issue of human rights violation affecting so many Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS.
He said NACA’s records have shown a lot of work place discrimination and stigmatization on health ground.
He disclosed that the agency is proposing to establish human rights reporting desks in the 6 geo-political zones where people can report human rights violations experienced as a result of their health status.
“This is an area that NACA can easily collaborate with the Commission considering its capacity and strength on ground” Ogundipe said.
In her remarks, the focal officer on gender UNDP, Ms. Onyiye Ndubuisi said relevant stakeholders have a role to play in addressing the issues of human rights violations affecting various sectors of the society.
She expressed optimism in the ability of the Commission to hold violators accountable, saying, “access to justice is the way to go in curtailing violence against women”.
She pledged the support of UNDP to work with both agencies in the fight against human rights affecting women generally.
