In a bid to protect people living with HIV/Aids, the House of Representatives Wednesday adopted a bill that seeks to outlaw any form of discrimination and stigmatization for Persons Living With HIV/AIDS, PLWHA in Nigeria.
When it is eventually assented to, people living with HIV/Aids will not be compelled to reveal their HIV/AIDS status before gaining employment while breast-feeding mothers living with the disease will enjoy “reasonable accommodation in the work place.
Joseph Kigbu (APC, Nasarawa) who sponsored the Bill opined that it will have a huge positive impact on HIV/AIDS healthcare in Nigeria since it seeks to address the issue of discrimination and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS both in the workplace and our homes.
According to him, “The bill will go very far in improving healthcare for people living with HIV/AIDS as it addresses issues of stigmatization and discrimination against such people. It also seeks to give increased commitment to donor funding from bilateral partners in fighting the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the country.
“In addition, it draws inspiration from modern law as similar laws have been adopted in other countries”.
The Committee of the Whole House presided over by Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, adopted all the 35 clauses contained in the bill.
