BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU/OGORAMAKA AMOS/FAVOUR PERCY-IDUBOR/RITA OYIBOKA/JUDITH OBIANUA
Persons living with HIV, estimated to be about two million in Nigeria, remain among the most stigmatized and misunderstood groups in society. For decades, deep-seated cultural beliefs, outdated medical assumptions and religious misinterpretations have combined to fuel fear, prejudice and social exclusion. Beyond the physical toll of the virus, many affected individuals continue to endure rejection, isolation and profound psychological trauma, often in silence.
As the global community commemorates Zero Discrimination Day, attention once again turns to the urgent need to dismantle stigma in all its forms. In this special report, stakeholders, including health professionals, advocates, faith leaders and members of the public, offer candid reflections on the roots of HIV-related discrimination, its far-reaching consequences, and the collective responsibility to build a more inclusive and compassionate society.
In an interview with The Pointer, the Executive Director of Wave of Growth Foundation, Mr Ekenem Omosor, explained that his work within the non-governmental sector has exposed him to the need for continued advocacy against the stigmatisation of people with HIV.
“I work with NGOs, sometimes as a consultant and sometimes as a field officer. Our job is to ensure that people have access to accurate health information and understand how to stay safe. We are more interested in people remaining healthy than constantly going to hospitals; that is the essence of public health.
‘’During my time at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), where I worked in the Public Health Department, I encountered patients living with HIV who were in very good condition because they were receiving proper care. They adhered strictly to their medication and dietary guidance, and some were even advised to manage weight gain because treatment had significantly improved their health. That experience showed me that, with the right medication and lifestyle management, people living with HIV can appear and live quite healthily,” he said.
Speaking on the issue of discrimination, Omosor acknowledged that stigma still exists despite legal protections. “I believe there are still forms of discrimination, even if they are not openly encouraged. Sometimes, people who know that someone is living with HIV may even feel uncomfortable sitting near the person due to poor health orientation and misinformation. This should not be the case because the HIV and AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act of 2014 is a primary Nigerian law that prohibits discrimination against people living with HIV.
‘’The law covers schools, workplaces and health facilities, and it prescribes penalties, including a fine of one million naira or up to two years’ imprisonment. With such legal protection in place, discrimination should not persist. People living with HIV are human beings who deserve dignity, inclusion and the opportunity to live fulfilling lives.”
Offering recommendations to organisations working in the health sector, he emphasised the importance of sustained advocacy and public education. “Advocacy and public health enlightenment campaigns are critical. People must understand that HIV, like many other illnesses, should not be a basis for discrimination. Much of the stigma stems from misinformation and misconceptions that have existed from the beginning, such as the belief that casual contact can transmit the virus.
‘’With proper orientation and consistent public enlightenment, society will better understand that HIV is not a death sentence and that people living with HIV can lead normal, productive lives,” he added.
Also speaking, a biomedical scientist and President of the Complete Women’s Charity Organisation, Mrs Jecinta Ben-Jabin, whose work focuses on preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission, shared her insights on the myths and stigma surrounding HIV.
“Some believe that HIV is a death sentence. Some think it’s a punishment. In some villages, people even say it’s the gods punishing them. Many also believe that you can identify HIV just by looking at someone,” she explained.
Recalling a recent experience during World AIDS Day on December 1, 2025, Mrs Ben-Jabin said, “We had our women (volunteers) spread across the country and even abroad for awareness campaigns. There was one man I stopped to talk to, and the moment I mentioned HIV, he ran away. I was surprised. I said, ‘Wait, I don’t have HIV.’ He replied, ‘No, no, no, you can’t touch me.’ I told him, ‘You can’t just transmit it by touching me or talking to me.’”
She added, “These are some of the myths we face. We tackle them through storytelling, community dialogues, and simple science. We explain the treatment, the success, the virus suppression, and how to prevent the pandemic in ways people can understand.”
Mrs Ben-Jabin described her hands-on approach: “I have sat with HIV-positive people, eaten with them, even slept in the same spaces, just to show HIV-negative people that it’s not transferable that way. At the end, I invite them to take a test with me. I show them how one person can test positive while another remains negative, and we go through the process together. Education reduces fear, and understanding eliminates stigma far faster than arguments ever can.”
She has stressed the need to use social media to reach wider audiences with HIV awareness. “I’m also a TikToker, and by the grace of God, I have over 30,000 followers. I go live to teach about HIV and AIDS. Social media removes barriers. I use it to normalise conversations, debunk myths, and challenge discrimination with empathy. I share stories and create safe spaces where people can learn without shame. Many of my viewers, even those using anonymous profiles, tell me that my livestreams inspire them to speak openly about HIV for the first time,” she said.
In an interview with The Pointer, a respondent who only identified as Peace opened up about her personal experience with HIV and the natural fears it can evoke. “I have nothing against people living with HIV. I truly believe they deserve protection and should never be stigmatised. But I have to admit, when it comes close to home, things feel different,” she said.
“I once dated someone who became seriously ill for months. He was admitted to the hospital repeatedly, and doctors kept trying to figure out what was wrong. Watching him grow thinner and weaker was terrifying. I was anxious all the time, and I found myself begging him to take an HIV test. At first, he was angry, and I felt guilty for pressing him. But eventually, he agreed. It came out negative.”
Peace continued: “That experience made me realise that even though I consciously don’t judge or fear people living with HIV, there’s a natural, instinctive fear that comes when someone close to you is affected. It’s not about blaming them, it’s about the unknown, the uncertainty, and the worry about their health and your own safety. I think society can reduce this fear through awareness and empathy, but we also have to be honest about the feelings we carry. It’s complicated, and it’s only human.”
Meanwhile, medical doctors in Delta State have joined the Nigerian Red Cross Society in calling for an end to stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.
In an interview, the Secretary of the NRC Delta State Branch, Mr Charles Arinomor, described people living with HIV as human beings who deserve respect, care and equal opportunities.
According to him, stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to effective HIV prevention, testing and treatment, as fear of discrimination often discourages individuals from seeking medical help or disclosing their status.
Recounting a personal experience, Arinomor said, “I had a friend who came to me with her diagnosis. She even told me she has a partner, and I encouraged her that it is not the end of the world. The best she can do for herself and her partner is to continue taking her medication and ensure they are protected.”
He reiterated that communities must promote compassion and inclusion. “We must treat people living with HIV with dignity. They are members of our families, workplaces and communities. Discrimination has no place in a humane society,” he said.
Supporting his position, a nursing student currently undergoing an internship at Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Mrs Chekwube Nelson, stressed that HIV is a manageable medical condition and should not define a person’s worth. “People living with HIV can live long, productive lives with proper treatment. What they need from society is understanding and support, not rejection,” she said.
She added, “I have attended to many patients, both adults and children. If I were not in the nursing field, I might not have known that some of them are living with HIV. Many look healthier than people who are not infected because they adhere strictly to their medication and medical advice.”
Another medical practitioner, who preferred anonymity, noted that advances in antiretroviral therapy have significantly improved life expectancy and quality of life for patients. “The science is clear. With consistent medication, the virus can be suppressed to undetectable levels. Stigmatisation only pushes people away from care,” he said, adding that HIV should never be linked to immorality or shame. “It is a health condition, not a moral judgement on anyone’s life.”
A nurse, Mrs Victoria Chinedu, also emphasised the importance of empathy when someone discloses their status. “If anyone comes to me for counsel, my first response is to thank them for trusting me. I encourage them to remain consistent with their medication and remind them that they are not alone. Stigma can be more damaging than the virus itself. We must create safe spaces where people feel accepted,” she said.
She noted that some patients have reported being avoided by neighbours or even family members after revealing their status, with a few allegedly losing jobs or relationships due to fear and misinformation, just as she urged residents to educate themselves, as the virus cannot be spread through casual contact such as handshakes, hugs or sharing meals.
Speaking to The Pointer in Edo State, an anonymous medical practitioner said, “Stigma or discrimination remains a significant barrier to care. As a medical professional, I have encountered instances where individuals living with HIV have been discriminated against or stigmatised both within healthcare settings and the society at large.
‘’Although there are significant advancements in HIV treatment, turning it into a manageable condition, there is still a high level of stigmatisation. This singular act has led to denial or sub-optimal care, with some healthcare providers refusing to treat patients with HIV, often due to fear of transmission, despite the availability of universal precautions.
‘’Patients have reported having their status disclosed to other staff or community members without consent, or having their medical files marked in a way that stigmatises them. Healthcare workers may use excessive protective gear, such as double-gloving, for non-invasive procedures, which can be humiliating and stigmatising for the patient.
Patients are sometimes made to feel as though they deserve their infection, with some providers questioning how they were infected and blaming them for “immoral” behaviour. There have been instances of healthcare providers testing patients for HIV without their informed consent, particularly before surgeries.
In Port Harcourt, Blessing Okoro, a civil servant who spoke to our correspondent, said, “Honestly, when I was younger, the first thing that came to my mind when I heard someone had HIV was that the person had lived a reckless life,” she admitted. “That was how society presented it to us. It was always linked to immorality.”
“Growing up, I remember how neighbours talked about a woman who had a small shop and was rumoured to have HIV. People stopped buying from her. Mothers warned their children not to go near her house because they believed that it was contagious through physical touch. Even when she died, some said it was punishment.”
Today, Blessing says she knows better. “With all the awareness now, I understand that HIV can affect anybody — married people, faithful partners, even children born with it. It’s not something to judge.”
“Honestly, if someone close to me were to disclose their status, I would commend them first,” she said firmly. “Because the courage it takes to tell someone is not small. I would encourage them to stay on treatment and reassure them that I am not going anywhere.”
However, she acknowledged that fear still lingers in many homes. “In society, gossip spreads fast. Some people will still avoid sharing food or sitting close. Education is helping, but the mindset has not completely changed.”
Chinedu Eze, an Oil and Gas Professional, told The Pointer he believes stigma is more subtle in urban areas than in local communities. “In my industry, people may appear enlightened. But bias is often hidden,” he explained.
When he hears about someone living with HIV, he says he thinks about resilience. “Managing a chronic illness while maintaining productivity is not easy. But many people don’t see that. They only see risk.”
He narrated a past workplace incident. “There was a rumour about a staff member’s health condition some years back. Suddenly, he stopped being assigned to client-facing roles. Nobody said it was because of HIV, but the timing was suspicious, he said the staff later resigned from the organisation a few months later because the avoidance from other staff members was no longer comfortable .”
When asked if a colleague disclosed their status to him, how he would react, he said, “I would treat it as confidential. I would not see them differently. The bigger issue is psychological support. Many people living with HIV suffer in silence because they fear workplace discrimination.”
Another respondent, Pastor Daniel Ibilo, spoke passionately about the church’s role. “Let me be honest — the church has not always handled this well,” he admitted. He recalled sermons from the 1990s that linked HIV strictly to sin and abomination. “That narrative created fear and shame. People were afraid to come forward and disclose their status”
Today, he emphasises compassion. “When someone tells me they are living with HIV, I see a child of God who needs love, not condemnation. Illness is not proof of moral failure.”
On cultural and religious contributions to stigma, he said: “In our society, there is a tendency to spiritualize everything. Instead of seeing HIV as a medical condition, some interpret it as a spiritual attack or divine punishment. That mindset fuels discrimination.” He believes churches must normalise conversations around health. “We preach about cancer and hypertension without judgment. HIV should be no different.”
Also, the programme officer for Society for Family Health, Aisha Mohammed, said, “When we enter some communities for sensitisation, the first reaction is denial,” she explained. “People say, ‘That disease is not here.’ But statistics show otherwise.”
She says cultural expectations often worsen stigma for women. “A married woman who tests positive may be accused of infidelity immediately. Nobody will care about the side of the woman, even when she might have contracted it from her husband. These cases are seen every day, the stigma and the emotional trauma the woman is going through are heartbreaking.”
“We need consistent engagement, not one-off campaigns and support. Radio programmes in local dialects. Market outreaches, youth ambassadors, religious leaders’ involvement… This should be everyone’s concern because it is eating up society gradually.”
She stressed that silence breeds stigma. “The more we normalise HIV conversations, the less power stigma has because the more people open up and talk about it, the less trauma.
Similarly, a physician, Dr Amaka Nwosu, who has worked with HIV patients for over a decade, admitted that discrimination is still very real. She recounted a case of a pregnant woman abandoned by her partner after disclosure.
“He refused to attend clinic visits with her. She was emotionally devastated.” Some patients, she added, travel outside their neighbourhoods for treatment. They fear running into acquaintances.”
“HIV isn’t a death sentence. With consistent antiretroviral therapy, patients can live long, healthy lives. Many marry, have HIV-negative children, and pursue successful careers. So, this stigma isn’t necessary”
Also, a student, Emeka Johnson, 23, believes young people are more informed but not immune to prejudice. “We’ve grown up with more awareness campaigns, but stigma still exists in subtle ways — especially online.”
He recalled how a student committed suicide due to his status “The incident was heartbreaking because he was just in his 300 Level. Nobody knew he was dying in silence, afraid to disclose his issue due to the fear of being judged and the stigma that follows. It was after his death that a test result was seen in his locker”.
He believes peer education is powerful. “When young people hear from other young people living positively, it changes perspectives. Lack of knowledge creates fear. Fear creates stigma.”
Meanwhile, a Human Rights Lawyer, Victor Douglas, highlighted legal frameworks protecting persons living with HIV. “Discrimination based on HIV status violates constitutional rights and public health laws,” he said.
Yet enforcement remains weak. “Many victims don’t report discrimination and maltreatment because they fear further exposure.”
He advocates stronger public legal awareness campaigns. “Ending stigma requires sustained effort, because in the fight against HIV, stigma remains the most stubborn infection”.
Speaking with our correspondent in Asaba, Evang Sylvester Iloh acknowledged that he was gripped with fear at the time HIV was brought to public notice. ‘’It was in those early years when HIV was announced that I was gripped with fear due to the kind of information about the virus. It was said then that when one just touched HIV patients, the person would contract it, but currently, that kind of fear is not there again because one has understood and has better information about HIV.
Moreover, another respondent, Susan Akin, said, ‘’I used to think that when the person who is affected comes close to you, one will contact it. As I grew up, I began to understand what it is all about’’
