Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo has emphasised the urgent need to end the stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, who called for support for those affected by the virus, highlighted the importance of addressing stigma to ensure individuals living with HIV/AIDS receive the necessary care and support.

“As a government of the people, we are committed to sustaining HIV prevention efforts in the state. We shall continue to provide enabling environments, social policies, and programmes to facilitate HIV/AIDS prevention,” he said.

He made this statement on Monday following an awareness walk organised by the Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ODSACA) in Akure.

The event was part of activities to commemorate the 2024 World AIDS Day.

The governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to eradicating HIV/AIDS through various interventions.

Mr Aiyedatiwa also outlined steps taken by the state, including the procurement of HIV test kits for health facilities and the establishment of monitoring and evaluation programmes for family health.

He added that the state has integrated HIV/AIDS education into secondary school curriculums and regularly airs HIV prevention messages on radio and television stations.

The governor called for stronger collaboration among civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and religious groups to achieve the state’s goal of zero new HIV infections by 2030.

Dayo Adegbulu, project manager of ODSACA, reiterated that combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a collective responsibility.

Mr Adegbulu also warned against the stigmatisation of people living with the virus, stressing that Ondo state has passed a law to prevent discrimination and stigmatisation against individuals with HIV/AIDS.

He encouraged citizens to report cases of stigmatisation to the relevant authorities.