FEATURED NEWS
177th Inaugural Ugwu Advocates Paediatric HIV Prevention in Nigeria
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- Published: 28 November 2021
By Humphrey Ogu
Issues bordering on preventing Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and eliminating paediatric HIV in Nigeria were the main focus of the 177th Inaugural Lecture delivered by Professor Rosemary Ugwu at Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium on Thursday, November 11, 2021.
Ugwu who is of the Department of Paediatric and Child Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences spoke on the topic: “Paediatric HIV, Totally Preventable--Challenges in Management: Are We Equal to the Task?” She listed the individual/family, community, health facility, government and non-governmental levels as the different units for preventing paediatric HIV/AIDS.
Highlighting the contributions of paediatric HIV infections to childhood morbidity and mortality in the country, Ugwu said that majority of the cases results from MTCT. “When children living with HIV have access to treatment, they do well and can live a normal, healthy lives, just like any other child. We should stop stigmatising and discriminating against them,” she advised.
On whether it is possible to totally eliminate new HIV infection in children in Nigeria, the 177th Inaugural Lecturer drawing inspiration from the famous campaign slogan of ex-President Barack Obama said: “Yes, we can totally eliminate paediatric HIV. Yes, we can address the needs of already infected children. Yes, we can support these children adequately. Yes, we can protect them from becoming the next wave of pandemic.”
Ugwu, who disclosed that she had been involved in training both undergraduate and postgraduate medical personnel on the care of HIV-exposed and infected children since her employment in the University, said she had contributed to knowledge with presentation of over 38 papers in local and international conferences. “I also successfully supervised 10 dissertations for senior residents towards their Part II exams in the Postgraduate Medical College,” she said, adding that nine of them have become Consultants and Senior Lecturers, while one has risen to the rank of a Professor.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended Professor Ugwu for well researched and properly presented lecture on a very critical area of human health. Represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Clifford Ofurum, the Vice Chancellor said: “given the importance of the topic, one would have expected that staff and students will attend in their numbers to benefit from the knowledge shared by this erudite scholar. It is sad that has not been the case. The Inaugural Lecturer had urged us to stop stigmatising against HIV/AIDS.”
Meanwhile the 178th Inaugural Lecture to be delivered by Professor Ikechukwu Agbagwa of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology on Thursday December 16, 2021 will be on the topic: “Toxonomic Complexities and Molecular Diversity: Ancient and Modern.”
