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The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held on the third Sunday of May every year. It is not only an opportunity to remember the people who have lost from HIV related ailment but also to honour those who dedicated their lives to helping people living with and affected by HIV as well as continue to mobilise communities in solidarity.
People living with HIV started the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in 1983 and since then there have been thousands of events organized across the world by community-based organisations and partners to uplifting ceremonies in communities, places of worship and workplaces. Such events have helped raise awareness about HIV and more importantly have helped in breaking down stigma within communities.
In the recent past, due to many other factors also compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV Response especially in the areas of awareness and sensitization have dropped to near zero. This does not also translate that there are no new infections considering the alarming rates of risky behaviour especially among our adolescent and young people.
Commodity supplies and active case searching have also suffered serious setback, this has been evidenced by the paucity of items like condoms and absence of mobile HIV Testing Setvices.
The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is also a campaign to mobilize communities and raise social consciousness about HIV and AIDS. With almost 38 million people living with HIV globally today, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial serves as an important platform for global solidarity, breaking down barriers of stigma and discrimination, and giving hope to new generations.
Recent statistics have shown that;
- About 1.9 million persons are living with HIV in Nigeria
- A national prevalence of 1.4% among adults 15 - 49years.
It also shows that women aged 15–49 years are more than twice as likely to be living with HIV than men (1.9% versus 0.9%.). This is even higher among younger women aged 20 -24years.
Despite significant efforts in the past to stop new infections, we still have a prevalence of 0.2% among children 0-14years.
At the national level, viral suppression among people living with HIV aged 15–49 years stands at 42.3% (45.3% among women and 34.5% among men). When people living with HIV are virally suppressed they remain healthy and transmission of the virus is prevented.
The South-South zone of the country has the highest HIV prevalence, at 3.1% among adults aged 15–49 years. HIV prevalence is also high in the North Central zone (2.0%) and in the South East zone (1.9%). HIV prevalence is lower in the South West zone (1.1%), the North East zone (1.1%) and the North West zone (0.6%).
Edo State has a prevalence of 1.8%, Delta 1.9%, Rivers 3.8%, Bayelsa 1.7%, Akwa Ibom 5.6%,
With this prevalence, excluding yet to be confirmed new infections actually represents thousands of persons who are our loved ones, there is the need for a sustainable response.
Over the years we have relied on donor funding, we should at this time put words to action to make the domestic resource mobilization work to improve and sustain the impact made over the years.
With the understanding that there is no part of our lives or daily living that is not affected by HIV, as we REMEMBER, let us all take the needed ACTION that would enable us live BEYOND HIV.
Dr. Bright Oniovokukor
Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN)
South South Zone
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