REGINA WHENU was at Skyflyers International School, Ibafo, where members of AIDS Free Club marked the World HIV/AIDS Day, and experts advocated good nutrition as a tool to fight diseases.
Nigerians have been advised to eat high-fibre and low-fat diet to avert a possible epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) as a result of poor nutrition and unhealthy lifestyle.
A nutritional biochemist, Patrick Okere, gave this advice while addressing officials, members of staff and students of Skyflyers International Group of Schools, Ibafo, Ogun State, as part of activities marking the World HIV/AIDS day on December 1.
Okere also stressed that nutrition plays a big role in boosting immunity against HIV.
His words: “Nigerians risk a possible epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) as a result of poor nutrition and unhealthy lifestyle. If nothing is done now, the result in few years will overwhelm the nation. People should eat high-fibre/low-fat diet to boost immunity.”
According to him, nutrition and diet play a very important role in the prevention of so many diseases, most importantly helping to boost immunity.
“Nutrition plays significant role in determining the level of immunity. There is epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in Nigeria as a result of poor nutrition and unhealthy lifestyle,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, a medical laboratory scientist, Emmanuel Ariyo, observed that young adults in Nigeria are particularly vulnerable to HIV, with young women at higher risk than young men.
He listed the risk factors that contribute to the spread of HIV to include prostitution, high-risk practices among roving workers, high occurrence of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), stealthy high-risk heterosexual and homosexual practices, women trafficking, and improper blood handling.
The guest speaker, who spoke on the title ‘Focus, partner, achieve’, elaborated on how HIV/AIDS is spread, the stigmatisation of People Living with the HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs), as well as the most recent development in the research on procuring a preventive measure for HIV/AIDS.
“Laboratory isolation of HIV has been done from blood, breast milk, saliva, vaginal fluid, urine, tears and cerebrospinal fluid. HIV cannot penetrate an unbroken skin. So the skin is a natural barrier against the virus. However, major or even minor cuts, sores, ulcers or abrasions will allow the virus into the blood stream. HIV can be transmitted via blood and its products. These include: through infected blood, though sexual relationships, perinatal (mother to child).
“In October 2014, results of two research studies released in England, France and Canada on the use of a drug called ‘Truvada’ as a PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) – drug used for prevention before coming into possible contact with a disease agent. The results show a significant promise that the drug will be very useful in HIV prevention. Professor Jean-Francois Delfraissy, the Director of the French HIV research agency, said ‘This is a major breakthrough in the fight against HIV’. This is just one of the various prophylactic agents currently under investigation and trial,” he said.
Truvada® contains a combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir – anti-viral drugs that work by preventing HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cells from multiplying in the body.
Director of Skyflyers International School, Chijioke Asuoha, stated that the event was organised to remind all that HIV/AIDS is still on rampage, and that there is need to combat it to a standstill, just as Nigeria did with the deadly Ebola virus in Nigeria.
He said: “As we mark this international event – World AIDS Day, we wish to remind ourselves that HIV/AIDS is still on rampage and therefore we must maintain vigilance and keep working in sensitising people about HIV/AIDS. We should avoid being carried away by the euphoria that Ebola, which overtook HIV/AIDS in popularity, has been eliminated and falsely assume that all infectious diseases have been eliminated. That will be very suicidal.
“The mission of the school is to produce young ones of finest quality, who are properly informed, exposed and packaged to meet the global standard. We handle young people whose age brackets fall within the danger zone of HIV/AIDS infection. Hence they need proper awareness and counselling about HIV/AIDS to guide and help them live a more responsible lives, to prevent them from getting infected with sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS.”
The event also witnessed students’ Drama and Choir Group presenting a playlet, song and choreographed musical piece. They were also write-ups on HIV/AIDS and quiz competition.
