A civil society organisation, Initiative for Grassroot Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), has called on Governor Usman Ododo to assent to the HIV Anti-Stigma Bill passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly in June this year.
Executive Director of INGRA, Hamza Aliyu, made the call during a one-day media roundtable for advancing the HIV stigma bill and addressing issues around the stigma reduction in Lokoja on Thursday.
He explained that the objective of the bill, when assented to by the Governor, would prevent new infections and would also help to prevent stigmatization.
Aliyu said the state government should ensure that the rights of the over three hundred thousand people living with HIV /AIDs in the state should be protected.
“The law which Is broad based, protects the rights and dignity of HIV affected person and eliminate all forms of discrimination.
“The law creates supportive environment for people living with HIV and AIDs as well as create a safe and working environment for affected person.
“The law also gives an employer the right to take an affirmative action on requirements for a job noted as it also provided penalty for noncompliance with the law,” he said.
Aliyu explained that the law creates supportive environment for people living with HIV and AIDs as well as create a safe and working environment for affected person.
He said the law also gives an employer the right to take an affirmative action on requirements for a job noted that It also provided penalty for non compliance with the law.
