Date Published: 09/13/11

HIV treatment centres record low turn out of men -- NACA

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) on Tuesday attributed the low turn out of men at HIV treatment centres to lack of interest to know their status.

Prof. John Idoko, the director general of NACA , told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that those that knew their status would not want to access treatment.

``The big issue is that the men refuse to come for testing, they refuse to come to access health and because the woman is first tested they will say the women is responsible in bringing it into the home,” Idoko said.

He noted that most surveillance on HIV and AIDS was based mainly on pregnant women as it had been shown that in the country women covered 58 per cent while men were 42 per cent.

According to the director, the reasons for the high percentage are that women are socially, economically and politically deprived compared to men, also some are raped and the issue of gender based violence even in homes.

``In terms of economy, women are much lower because they are at risk, some women sell sex to make a living while some who wants to help them ask for sex, politically their voices are not heard,” Idoko said.

He urged Nigerians to support the 35 per cent affirmation action and Women for Change Initiative, saying ``educate a woman put her in position, you have done it to the whole nation”. Idoko was reacting to Prof. Atiane Osagie, who attributed the low number of men at HIV drug centres to the effect of male circumcision to the condition.

Osagie, Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecologist, Jos University Teaching Hospital, said it had been found ``very conclusively'' that male circumcision can actually protect against HIV by between 40 per cent and 50 per cent.

The doctor noted that HIV problem was not as severe in Nigeria as in southern and East African countries where the majority of people were totally uncircumcised. According to him, circumcision is being advocated in those countries to enhance HIV prevention and so adults are circumcising themselves.

Osage said women had propensity to catch the infection much higher than the men due to their biological organs, saying female circumcision would have helped women against contacting HIV.

NAN reports that Encyclopedia says circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual populations that are at high risk.

Evidence among heterosexual men in sub-Saharan Africa shows a decreased risk of between 38 per cent and 66 per cent over two years.

It added that WHO currently recommended circumcision as part of a programme for prevention of HIV transmission in areas with high endemic rates of HIV.

(NAN)