A visit to Omoo Stream (omoo odogoro/omoo college) NENWE

After more than  35 yrs I found myself in the company of  the numerous inhabitants of the area of the town that used and after these years still make use of 
this stream in 'hard times'.In the morning; scores of youths  with all sorts of  carts  and vehicles  trooping down to all the routs of this 'poor but blessed' stream or do we call it river? mostly to fetch water.However, many also come to wash their  wares and wears  in any point they consider 'their lower part' of the  stream. There is a standard   and almost  a permanent cash wash point by the  left bank while heading  to Awgu. There are builders and commercial  water suppliers who come down with their  tankers and motor pumps  most of them dropped almost inside the stream  emitting chocking smokes  in the air and dropping petroleum in the 
stream to the great dismay of the poor women and youths that come  to fetch water.

There are also numerous ugwu-avia residents who dredge the stream  not out of patriotism but to sell the sand to house builders; this is a new tendency 
that I just discovered.

In the evening you would find people  who just take a walk  down there to  curious around  the stream. You would also find a lot of young lovers  at all  the 
track ways  that run along and around the   stream areas stretching  from the  left bank to almost beyond the college (the secondary school)levels.
The picture that got me so alarmed was seeing couples of young boys sitting  under shrubs and some 'edjokwu'; some sober moods and some in high 
moods.My blood jumped as I thought  from my European prejudiced  culture/mind  'that GAY  is alive here'  and that homosexuals abound my beloved Nenwe despite the Nigerian pretense and denial  of that human phenomenon , however,after  some scrutiny and sniffing I  came to realize that GAY was really alive there but  the smoking 'GAY',IGBOO.WE-WE,OKPOKO-ENYI. These my GUYS were not (probably) GAYS but  'okpoko-enyi' smoking partners. 
It might interest you to know that as reported by some of the fellows :some of the taboos and diffidence

  on our Mgbowo neighbors and brothers are been broken as  some beautiful youths from there also stream/stroll  to the stream area  to meet their counterparts or partners  certainly not searching for  fetch water alone  anyway.After all these  (social economic etc) activities around the Omoo  Stream In Nenwe one question must be asked and answered:when will that stream seize to be the main source of WATER and DISEASE supplies to our people?

WORLD AIDS DAY...Dr Chukwuali

Federal Medical Centre, Keffi

A goodwill message from the IHVN-FMC Keffi Action Project
On the occasion of theWorld AIDS day, 2009

Dear Compatriots,
Every year, the 1st of December is celebrated globally as World AIDS Day. Since 1988, this day has been set aside for increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education about HIV/AIDS.
The reality of HIV/AIDS can no longer be contested by any rational person. The latest world statistics show that 33.4million people, including 2.1million children, are living with HIV/AIDS, there being 2.7million new infections in 2008 alone. About half of the HIV infections occur before the age of 25 years and kill the victims before they are 35 years. In other words, HIV/AIDS virtually eliminates our youths, our vibrant work force. Overall, 2million people died globally of HIV/AIDS in 2008 and the world has lost 25million people to HIV/AIDS since its discovery in 1981.
Sub-Saharan Africa currently bears 67% of the global HIV/AIDS burden with HIV prevalence rates of up to 23.9% in Botswana and 18% in South Africa.

In Nigeria , 2.6million people, both adults and children, are living with HIV/AIDS. This translates to approximately 20% of the global HIV burden even though Nigeria represents barely 2% of the World’s population.

In Keffi, 9.1% of women attending antenatal clinic as well as 8.6% of prospective blood donors are HIV positive.

Unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner, transfusion with infected blood, sharing of sharp objects between infected and uninfected persons and transmission from an infected mother to her unborn or breast-feeding baby remain the major means of transmission of HIV. These are fueled by ignorance, poverty, illiteracy and reckless lifestyles. Abstinence from unprotected sexual intercourse, being faithful to a single, uninfected sexual partner, correct and consistent use of condoms, avoidance of transfusion with unscreened blood, avoidance of sharing of sharp objects and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) remain the major means of prevention of HIV transmission.

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS. It draws attention to the need for people living with HIV/AIDS anywhere in the world to have unhindered access HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, recognizing this as fundamental human rights.
Frequently, we infringe on the fundamental human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Discrimination and stigmatization in whatever form against PLWHAs constitute an infringement on their fundamental human rights and these in turn hinder access to prevention, treatment, care and support. We must respect and protect PLWHAs.

We are hereby called upon to join the fight against HIV/AIDS. Let us provide unhindered access to information on prevention to those who are uninfected and unhindered access to treatment, care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Thank you very much.

Signed by:
Dr Leo Chukwuali (JP)
MBBS, FWACS, FICS.
PMTCT Focal Person.
For the Project Director

IHVN-FMC Keffi Action Project.

THE ACTION PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT ON HIV/AIDS PREVENTION, TREATMENT, CARE AND SUPPORT BETWEEN THE INSTITUTE OF HUMAN VIROLOGY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, USA AND THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, KEFFI, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA. IT IS FUNDED BY PEPFAR.THIS MESSAGE WAS CIRCULATED WIDELY TODAY IN KEFFI AND ENVIRONS.