Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has launched a renewed push to confront stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, warning that prejudice remains one of the biggest barriers to treatment, testing and prevention.
The HIV/AIDS Zero Stigma Campaign was officially flagged off on Tuesday in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, drawing government officials, health workers, community leaders and development partners to a shared call for acceptance and inclusion.
Organised by NACA in collaboration with Fresh Insight Nigeria Limited, the campaign aims to change attitudes at the community level, encourage people to get tested and stay on treatment, and ensure that living with HIV does not come with social exclusion.
Speaking at the event in Shasa, Akowonjo, the Director and District Head of Alimosho Local Government, Olawale Opoola Abiola, said stigma is a broader social problem that affects people with many health conditions.
“Stigmatisation is not associated with HIV alone,” he said. “Even persistent cough is sometimes stigmatised. These are health issues that require care, not rejection.”
Abiola stressed that an HIV diagnosis is not a death sentence, noting that many people living with the virus continue to lead successful, fulfilling lives.
“The fact that you are HIV positive does not mean life has ended,” he said.
Representing NACA’s Director-General, Raheem Muhammed, Deputy Director in the Special Duties Department, described stigma as one of the most dangerous threats in the fight against HIV.
“People did not die because HIV killed them; stigma and discrimination killed them,” he said, explaining that fear of ridicule often stops people from getting tested, starting treatment or staying on medication.
NACA’s Gender and HIV Stigma Focal Person, Emmanuela Agbagba, said discrimination continues to push infections underground.
“When there is stigma and discrimination, people don’t like going for HIV tests,” she said. “Even those who know their status may refuse treatment, and that increases the risk of death.”
She added that early testing and consistent access to medication significantly improve health outcomes and reduce transmission.
Programme Supervisor at Fresh Insight Nigeria Limited, Adetutu Adebimpe, described the campaign as timely, thanking local stakeholders for their quick support.
“This programme may have come together at short notice, but it is very important,” she said. “We are grateful for the cooperation of community leaders and health managers who made this possible.”
Participants at the event agreed that lasting change will depend on sustained public education, visible community leadership and continued sensitisation efforts.
They said reducing stigma would not only improve the quality of life for people living with HIV, but also strengthen public health by increasing testing, treatment uptake and adherence.
The Alimosho flag-off marks another step in Nigeria’s broader effort to eliminate HIV-related stigma and build a more inclusive healthcare system; one where no one is denied dignity or care because of their health status.
Health officials say similar community-based interventions will continue across the country as part of Nigeria’s long-term HIV response strategy.
