The effects of cultural taboos on the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Igie Taiwo Kelvin

Foundation Aid Solution For Talent Empowerment & Development (FASTED)

Lagos (Nigeria)

INTRODUCTION: Nigeria with its total area of 923,768 sq. km is not the largest country in Africa in terms of size. The Republic of South Africa, for example, has a geographical spread of 1,219,090 sq. km. and is 1/3 larger than Nigeria. Yet with a population of 123 million, Nigeria has three times the population of South Africa, which is only 40 million! The result is that Nigeria has one of the highest densities of human population in the world! In Nigeria large numbers of people live close together in compact cities and villages. Lagos, formerly the capital city of Nigeria (the capital is now Abuja), has a population of 15 million and is among the world’s top six most densely populated cities! What is the significance of this with regard to the spread of HIV/AIDS? The significance of this is that Nigeria is a country where uncontrolled spread of HIV/AIDS would be a virtual explosion. Nigeria is a country that requires close watching and monitoring by the global crusaders of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Nigeria could be a disaster that is waiting to occur if left unattended!

CULTURAL TABOOS: As if the danger was not real enough, cultural traditions forbid the discussion of sexuality and STDs publicly. So HIV and AIDS are still seen as the white man’s disease after all these years. There are still people in Nigeria who do not believe the existence of AIDS! They are more ready to believe in witchcraft attacks requiring treatment from native doctors than accept the existence of HIV/AIDS! Sexual ignorance pervades the nation. Christianity hypocritically distances itself from people who have had the misfortune of catching the infection! Islam encourages polygamous marriages, which constitute a fertile ground for the spread of the infection! Traditionally high morals have been eroded by a fast spreading western style culture of free access to the opposite sex!

GOVERNMENT APPROACH: One would have expected the government of the country to declare an all-out war on HIV/AIDS and other STDs when all these issues are considered. But with severe under-development problems on hand to battle – road infrastructure, education, electricity, railways, port facilities and organization, health, and other community development problems, there are virtually no resources left to battle the AIDS pandemic!

CONCLUSION: Nigeria needs help from the global community in her battle against AIDS, and very fast too! Time is not on our side; we must respond quickly!

About Igie Taiwo Kelvin

Am a dynamic man with passion for human empowerment and development. And to be able to do more for humanity i further went for Theological School where i obtained Bsc. I have presented papers in many international conferences.

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