GATHERING STORM OF HIV/AIDS

Published in Punch of Wednesday, June 7, 2

The HIV/AIDs epidemic in Nigeria has gone through a number of phases.  First, there was the initial phase of denial.

Then came the second phase, which was one mainly, based on exclusively health sector response.  The third and current phase is the multi-sectoral, phase where government, the private sector and the civil society organizations are all working together in combating the virus.

One of such multi-sectoral responses, this time from the media, is a book, which highlights some of the key actors and factors that have shaped the nature and components of the national response to HIV/AIDs over the years.  Titled, The Gathering Storm of HIV/AIDs in Nigeria:  The story so far’, the book by Ebere Ahanihu is in 10 chapters and chronicles the different stages the HIV/AIDs epidemic has gone through in Nigeria.

The book in its chapter 10, which is devoted to what the future holds, acknowledges the fact that between 1999 ad 2003, Nigeria had accomplished so much in its response to the HIV/AIDs epidemic.

The author said, more than ever before, there is now a better understanding of the issue.

Nogi Imoukhuede,
Project Coordinator,
Women's Rights Watch Nigeria-www.rufarm.kabissa.org