The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has pledged to give speedy consideration to the amendment of the Anti-HIV/AIDS Stigma Law to protect people living with the virus in the state.

The chairman of the House Committee on Health, Larry Ven-Bawa, made the pledge on Friday while hosting the Nasarawa State Gender and Human Rights Technical Working Group of NASACA in Lafia.

Mr Ven-Bawa appreciated the good working relationship between the assembly and the agency.

He promised to give the Executive Bill all the necessary attention required for speedy passage “when it is presented on the floor of the assembly”.

The lawmaker said the need to revisit the existing law had become necessary to accommodate key inputs that would address some of the challenges the agency faces in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Mr Ven-Bawa also promised to support the agency’s activities to ensure its success.

“We will support and lobby for more funding to enable the agency to discharge its responsibilities effectively,” he said.

Earlier, the Executive Director, Nasarawa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (NASACA), Ruth Bello, said they were in the assembly to seek members’ support for the proposed amendment to the Anti-Stigma Law.

“The bill will soon come to the House for legislative processes and passage,” she said.

According to her, some key points in the amendment include strengthening laws and policies to protect people living with HIV/AIDS against stigmatisation and discrimination in workplaces and communities.

Ms Bello said, “The bill also seeks to protect their right to healthcare.

“The proposed amendment also seeks severe punishment for those who defile minors and rapists, to serve as a deterrent to others.”

She further said the amendment bill would make provision for couples to undergo HIV tests three months before marriage.

Ms Bello used the occasion to appeal to the government to make NASACA solely responsible for the purchase and distribution of preventive commodities within the state.

She also suggested that NGOs coming to the state with support should channel it through the agency.

The executive director appreciated the assembly for its support and urged it to sustain the tempo.

(NAN)