For the war against Human Imino Virus (HIV) to be won in Nigeria and Africa, people must make themselves available for voluntary tests.
Also, unhealthy cultural practices like female circumcisions and polygamous marriages must be avoided by Nigerians, to ensure that the number of people being infected with the virus would drastically be reducing.
These points were made by Prof Madu James Awa, when he delivered the 3rd inaugural lecture of Gregory University, Uturu which was held at Goodluck Jonathan auditorium, Uturu.
The lecture, themed Dynamics of community acquired infection: Forecasting the trajectory through collaborative professionalism, was used to educate the general public about community infections of HIV.
He identified the youth bracket of 15-24 years as those with the highest rate of fresh infections because they account for about 79% of infections in Africa.
Prof Madu revealed that the spike in HIV infections among people of 15-24 years was being caused by their peer pressure, adding that during festive periods, such persons are likely to engage in unprotected sexual activities that may result to HIV infections.
He also blamed poor enlightenment, illiteracy, inconsistent taking of antiretroviral drugs as some factors driving high rate of community infections.
He however, explained that through the research efforts he and other medical experts made on the matter, it was discovered that mother-to-baby or husband -to- wife infections in HIV could be prevented or controlled.
“Not all babies born with HIV got it from their mothers. Some were contracted either through unsterilized equipment in places of delivery or during circumcision exercises.”
He challenged the federal and State governments to give more funding against the disease and called for internal wrangling among various professional health bodies, to achieve desired results.
“Most of the things that happen in the communities are unreported like circumcisions and polygamous marriages. Imagine a situation where a man with many wives gets infected with the virus. Think about the explosion it could result to.”
He further used the occasion to warn that Tuberculosis disease also drive HIV spike in humans and commended the special roles being played by several global health agencies in the fight against all infectious diseases, especially in Africa.
During the 3rd inaugural lecture, officials of National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), led by Mrs Calister Anosike also delivery a lecture to educate students of Gregory University, about the dangers of drugs abuse to their health, education and future career.
