ROLE OF NTA ENUGU IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIV/AIDS IN RURAL AREAS.

ROLE OF NTA ENUGU IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIV/AIDS IN RURAL AREAS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

It is said that health is wealth. The issues of health have overwhelmed our daily comments, since evolution of science. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a recent recognized disease throughout the world, which is caused by the infection of the Human, Immune Deficiency Virus, which attack selected cells in the immune system and produces defects in function.

Human Immune Virus (HIV) and AIDS in Nigeria was first discovered in 1984 among researchers at the National Institution for Medical Research, Yaba Lagos. The first evidence of AIDS in Nigeria was reported to health officials by Nasidi, and Heavy in 1986. Against this background the federal government in conjunction with other countries of the world through the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to embark on massive campaigns against HIV/AIDS pandemic in rural areas and the nation in general.

Nigerian Television Authority Enugu as part of its efforts to eradicate this dreadful disease which seems to have defied Federal government’s efforts at combating it, then established the National AIDS control programmes in response to public concern raised the awareness of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infestation in Nigeria.

For Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Enugu to campaign on any issue of interest to the public, it must not be regarded as fallacious or unsystematically prepared but rather involving message on existing public interest to the people based on experience, facts, beliefs, socio-economic and educational backgrounds. Despite the fact, the non-challant attitude the masses still prevails in relation, to accept the Role of NTA Enugu in the Campaign against HIV/AIDS as a complete truth. Moreover, one should not forget that it takes a lot of courage and grief to affect change in a society.

Though this study may not go into the structure of AIDS control programmes or the imminent dangers inherent in AIDS, it will look at the information management and the use of NTA Enugu to campaign to facilities proper public understanding of programme of will prove the degree of which the entire public have related to the HIV/AIDS campaign and to what extent these campaigns have helped alert the masses of dangers of HIV/AIDS.

Again in response to the evidence and the debate on the existence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria the then minister of Health Professor Olukoye Ransom, Ikuti in 1987, instituted the National Expert Advisory Committee on AIDS (NEACA) and was charged with the responsibility of whether or not AIDS exist in Nigeria.