ANSACA Partners Religious Leaders to Fight HIV Myths, Stigma in Anambra

By Chibuzo Obidike

The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency, ANSACA, is strengthening its partnership with religious leaders to tackle HIV misinformation, stigma and discrimination across the state.

The Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, disclosed this on Thursday while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS, NINERELA+, at the Agency.

The delegation was led by the Anambra State Coordinator, Dcns. Ugwu Makuachukwu, alongside representatives of the Muslim community.

Okeke said religious institutions have significant influence at the grassroots and can play a critical role in promoting HIV awareness, testing, prevention, treatment and care.

He stressed that while faith and spiritual support remain important, they should complement, not replace, evidence-based medical treatment, warning that misinformation could discourage testing and affect treatment adherence.

ANSACA and NINERELA+ agreed to deepen faith-based HIV education and community engagement as part of efforts to achieve Zero New HIV Infections and an AIDS-Free Anambra State by 2030.