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The
effects of cultural taboos on the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria
Igie
Taiwo Kelvin
Foundation
Aid Solution For Talent Empowerment & Development (FASTED)
Lagos
(Nigeria)
INTRODUCTION:
Nigeria with its total area of 923,768 sq. km is not the largest country
in Africa in terms of size. The Republic of South Africa, for example, has
a geographical spread of 1,219,090 sq. km. and is 1/3 larger than Nigeria.
Yet with a population of 123 million, Nigeria has three times the
population of South Africa, which is only 40 million! The result is that
Nigeria has one of the highest densities of human population in the world!
In Nigeria large numbers of people live close together in compact cities
and villages. Lagos, formerly the capital city of Nigeria (the capital is
now Abuja), has a population of 15 million and is among the world’s top
six most densely populated cities! What is the significance of this with
regard to the spread of HIV/AIDS? The significance of this is that Nigeria
is a country where uncontrolled spread of HIV/AIDS would be a virtual
explosion. Nigeria is a country that requires close watching and
monitoring by the global crusaders of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Nigeria could
be a disaster that is waiting to occur if left unattended!
CULTURAL
TABOOS: As if the danger was not real enough, cultural traditions
forbid the discussion of sexuality and STDs publicly. So HIV and AIDS are
still seen as the white man’s disease after all these years. There are
still people in Nigeria who do not believe the existence of AIDS! They are
more ready to believe in witchcraft attacks requiring treatment from
native doctors than accept the existence of HIV/AIDS! Sexual ignorance
pervades the nation. Christianity hypocritically distances itself from
people who have had the misfortune of catching the infection! Islam
encourages polygamous marriages, which constitute a fertile ground for the
spread of the infection! Traditionally high morals have been eroded by a
fast spreading western style culture of free access to the opposite sex!
GOVERNMENT
APPROACH: One would have expected the government of the country to
declare an all-out war on HIV/AIDS and other STDs when all these issues
are considered. But with severe under-development problems on hand to
battle – road infrastructure, education, electricity, railways, port
facilities and organization, health, and other community development
problems, there are virtually no resources left to battle the AIDS
pandemic!
CONCLUSION:
Nigeria needs help from the global community in her battle against
AIDS, and very fast too! Time is not on our side; we must respond quickly!
About
Igie Taiwo Kelvin
Am
a dynamic man with passion for human empowerment and development. And to
be able to do more for humanity i further went for Theological School
where i obtained Bsc. I have presented papers in many international
conferences.
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