Stronger policies should be advocated by stakeholders to protect young individuals living with HIV

A stronger legislative framework and regulations are needed, according to stakeholders, to protect young people living with HIV from losing out on job prospects in the nation.

They made the call during the ongoing Civil Society Accountability Forum’s youth pre-conference, which was sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Youth Network on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NYNETHA).

Despite their abilities and skills, young people living with HIV have difficulty finding employment, according to Mr. Steve Aborisade, Advocacy and Marketing Manager at AHF.

According to Aborisade, the purpose of the meeting is to allow relevant parties to assess how well the current legal and regulatory frameworks ensure that adolescents and young people living with HIV (AYPLHIV) have access to gainful employment.

“We’ll plan to improve the laws and procedures that support youth employment opportunities and fair treatment, particularly for those who are HIV positive.

To pinpoint the main obstacles to AYPLHIV employment and encourage the creation of programmes for economic empowerment and the development of vocational skills that are sensitive to the requirements of youth.

“To encourage important participants in the HIV/AIDS corridor in Nigeria to support affirmative action on AYPLHIV employment.”

“And comprehend their demands from employers and engage in the status of HIV/AIDS workplace policy enforcement,” he stated.

According to Dr. Yinka Falola, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Acting Director of Policy Planning and Coordination Department, 300 instances of discrimination against HIV-positive individuals have been documented as of late.

However, Falola stated that 80 percent of the cases that were reported had been settled.

Ensuring that we bring and remove all barriers affecting career possibilities for people with HIV is a work in progress.

We implore you to investigate the possibility of becoming labour employers.

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“Be aware of your rights and know who to turn to if they are violated,” she said.

The ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone’s OSH Coordinator and HIV Technical Expert, Dr. Runo Onosode, urged them to embrace digital change in keeping with current worldwide trends.

According to Onosode, having these abilities would provide them excellent opportunities to succeed.

She urged young people to take advantage of the digital economy and everything that artificial intelligence (AI) has to offer in terms of prospects for job advancement.

The Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN)’s Mr. Abdulkadir Ibrahim emphasised the need for legal protection in order to stop the stigma and discrimination against HIV-positive individuals in the workplace.

He said, “We have a lot of people who are very good and competent, but they are denied jobs because of their status.”

Ibrahim also urged people living with HIV to look into alternative forms of employment rather than waiting for white-collar work.

“We’ll keep interacting and working together with all relevant parties to safeguard the rights of youth living with HIV.

“Instead of waiting for white collar jobs, I also encourage them to acquire skills to enable them to be self-reliant,” the man stated.

The UNAIDS Country Community Mobilisation and Network Adviser, Mr. Gabriel Undelikwo, stressed the importance of eradicating self-stigmatization.

“Get rid of all self-stigmatization so that your HIV status won’t stop you from realising your goals and aspirations.”

The Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCCA) was represented by Mr. Opeyemi Yekini, Senior Programme and Evaluation Officer, who encouraged those living with HIV to report any instances of stigmatisation and discrimination in the workplace.

NAN