Youth between the ages of 15 to 25 years account for over 30% of all new HIV infections across the world. As youth living in the highly populated mega city of Lagos, we are at risk for infection. The best way to reduce this risk is to know your HIV and STI status. Testing positive for HIV is not the end of the world, and we should treat people living with HIV with love and not stigmatize them. Increased knowledge about HIV/AIDS will help us understand the disease better, and realize that those living with HIV need our care and support. By reducing stigma, we ensure that more people know their status, and those who test positive are able to come out and get treatment to prolong their lives. Youth wey sabi do not stigmatize!
Community Leadership Messages
Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria with a very high population and daily influx. The city is one of the seven high burden State according to the last prevalence study (NAIIS2018), and as such the risk of new HIV infection is high. It is the duty of community leaders to educate our community members on HIV prevention and the enrolment into care of the people that test positive to HIV. They should be treated with love and not made to feel like outcasts. Everyone needs to know their HIV status in order to adopt positive life style, or to initiate early treatment to prolong their lives. We have a long way to go but through joint efforts, we can eliminate stigma against HIV/AIDS!