Lagos lawmaker: 470, 435 Lagosians HIV positive

As the world marks this year’s World AIDS Day, the chairman of the Lagos State House Committee on Health, Segun Olulade, has disclosed that 470, 435 residents are affected by the human immuno-deficiency virus, HIV.

Olulade, who represents Epe Constituency 2 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, disclosed this during plenary and under Matter of Urgent Public Importance

He also prayed the House to support people living with HIV and AIDS noting that there was need to unite efforts in fighting the deadly disease not only in the state but across the country.

“There is a need to show support to those living with AIDS; today gives us the opportunity to identify with the people living with AIDs.

“It is a serious issue that cannot be ignored or treated with levity; no fewer than 470, 435 people have HIV in Lagos State alone,” Olulade said, adding that the figure was obtained from the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency on Tuesday by the committee.

The lawmaker called on the state government and all relevant agencies to support enlightenment programmes aimed at stemming the spread of the disease.

In his view, representative of the Lagos Island Constituency I, Sola Giwa, noted that the issue of HIV requires all hands to be on deck to make it easy to be eradicated.

“I urge Lagosians to know that HIV/AIDS is real, there is no cure for it, people should protect themselves,” he said reminding some of his colleagues that the disease is not contacted through sexual intercourse alone.

His colleague, Yinka Ogundimu of Agege Constituency 2, urged the government and Nigerians to show care and love for people living with AIDS.

On his part, chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategy, Tunde Braimoh, urged the government to also look at many other life-threatening diseases killing Nigerians.

Contributing, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said that Lagos residents needed to be aware that HIV/AIDS was real and rampant.

The House appealed to Lagos residents to be careful and conscious in their daily activities.