AFRO-NETS> The Police in Nigeria are hungry for HIV/AIDS information

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

The Police in Nigeria are hungry for HIV/AIDS information
---------------------------------------------------------

Datelinehealth-Africa News Service
By: Staff Reporter, 05/19/03

Lagos, Nigeria [May 19, 2003] - The police in Nigeria are hungry for 
more information about HIV/AIDS in order to play important role in 
curbing the spread of the epidemic. 

The Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Ajeromi Police station in the 
Ajeromi-Ifelodu Local Government Area of Lagos state, Lagos, Nigeria 
made this view known recently when a Lagos based non-governmental or-
ganization held talks with sixty-three staff members at the police 
station recently. 

According to a release by Ebenezer Durojaiye, legal officer of the 
Lagos-based Centre for the Right to Health [CRH], the Centre on the 
7th of May 2003 was at the Ajeromi Police station to give a talk on 
HIV/AIDS. 

Durojaiye said that the talk covered such topics as "epidemiology of 
HIV/AIDS, mode of transmission, myths and realities about AIDS, pre-
vention, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS and voluntary counselling and 
testing". Other important subjects covered included "the legal and 
human rights issues raised by HIV/AIDS in Nigeria". Officers, men and 
women of the station were also given a demonstration on the correct 
use of the condom for HIV prevention. 

Sample questions asked and responded to during the question and an-
swer session, included: "Whether mosquito bite can cause HIV/AIDS? 
Whether HIV/AIDS can be got through kissing? What is the origin of 
HIV/AIDS? Does HIV cause AIDS? Whether it is possible for HIV posi-
tive woman to give birth to HIV negative baby? How can PLWHA have ac-
cess to HIV/AIDS medications? Do some persons in Nigeria have a cure 
for HIV/AIDS as claimed?" 

Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government area of Lagos State is an urban 
squalor with about 4 million inhabitants. It comprises densely popu-
lated areas such as Ajegunle and Olodi Apapa and has a high crime 
rate and numerous hotels and brothels. 

The police station is situated at the heart of the town and opposite 
the local government secretariat, which is one of the biggest in La-
gos State. 

Lagos State is the mercantile and economic powerhouse of Nigeria.

--
To learn more about the Centre for the Right to Health [CRH]
mailto:ebenezer1170@yahoo.com

Copyright 2003. Datelinehealth-Africa Inc. Permission to distribute 
is freely given for non-commercial purposes subject to proper credits 
being given as to source.

--
A. Odutola
Centre for Health Policy & Strategic Studies (CHPSS)
Lagos, Nigeria
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com
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