Nigeria admits -- "an epidemic is imminent, unless ..."
Ozoemene, K.N.
Aids Analysis Africa 2(3): 9-10
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 1016-8974 PMID: 12286005 Document Number: 323156
The rate of sero prevalence has doubled between March 25, 1991 and January, 1992 from .4% to .97%, and is expected to double next year to 1.8% or 1.6 million cases. Figures were prepared by the Director-general of the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services and given in an address to the Nigerian Medical Society. The Vice President stated that AIDS is epidemic and requires heterosexual behavior change. Ignorance and indifference among the population and medical community is an obstacle to the war against the disease. Contaminated blood donated to hospitals and private medical clinics is 60% contaminated with the HIV virus, but even if contamination is only 17% as critics contend, this is still too high. Only in a few teaching hospitals does the government test blood for the HIV virus. It is argued that it is the government's responsibility to urgently secure the safety of blood products. government should also insure that injection needles are properly sterilized by boiling. The ideal method would be disposable needles, because staff are careless about sterilization. Poorly sterilized needles are also used by patent medicine dealers and medical quacks whose medications are used by a largely illiterate population. Stigma associated with AIDS contributes to carriers discharging themselves early from hospitals and disappearance from monitoring agencies. Community support systems are also disrupted and employment, schooling, and residence is interfered with. everyone has the right to privacy within the law and AIDS carriers names should not be disclosed. Patients also do have the right to refuse tests or treatment. Physicians must balance the ethical legal principle of confidentiality with the right of society to protect itself. AIDS health workers are limited in number compared to the size of the problem. Financial and technical resources are also inadequate. The grant of 100,000 pounds from the British government to monitor the disease is insufficient. the official National AIDS Committee needs to become more active. Private initiatives include awareness campaigns.