Hope has come the way of the people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria as the government has approved a bill to prevent HIV-based discrimination and to protect the human rights and dignity of the people with the virus.

The people living with HIV/AIDS face many forms of stigma and discrimination in the country.

Nigeria has more than 2 million people living with HIV, but disclosure remains a major problem due to twin problems of discrimination and stigmatization.

Many infected people, especially in the military, have been sacked on account of their status.

Investigations have revealed that many corporate organizations in the country require people who are applying for to be employed to go for a medical test in their privately own hospitals.

Most qualified job seekers have been denied access to good job because the companies do not want to have anything to do with such candidates as a result of their health status.

"I am afraid to go for a HIV and AIDS test because I may lose my job," said a 35 years old female banker who did not want her name to be mentioned.

"I would not want to lose my friend, who are likely to run away from the person because if they get to know that the person is living with the virus," she added.

Another interviewer who also spoke on the condition of anonymity blamed the Nigerian federal government for the woes of those who have lost their job, noting that the government has failed to work out measures to address the cases with seriousness.

He said the HIV and AIDS virus should not be seen as political or ethnic matter that normally brings about discrimination among the peoples, adding that many Nigerians are living with the virus without knowing.

"Anybody can have it, it is not design for some sets of people," he added.

Michael Aondoakaa, Nigeria's Attorney General and also the country's Minister of Justice, said in a memo sent to the Federal Executive Council that the bill is meant to prevent all forms of discrimination against the people living with HIV/AIDS in work places.

He is of the opinion that the bill will help in the enforcement of fundamental rights of people as well as enhance a more supportive and proactive workforce that does not discriminate against employees for the mere reason that such employee is HIV positive.

To buttress the point, Nigeria's Minister of Information and Communication John Odey said with the government approval, the bill would be presented to the National Assembly for passage.

Odey said that because of the importance of the bill, and the need for the government to protect its citizens with HIV from discrimination, the council approved the proposal for the enactment of the bill.

(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2008)