EFFECTIVENESS OF AKBC RADIO CAMPAIGN ON HIV/AIDS AND ITS EFFECT ON YOUTHS IN IKOT EKPENE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
HIV/AIDS is basically a health and social problem menacing the entire world and Nigeria at large. This disease is said to be caused by Human Deficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS) AIDS disease is terminal. The virus has the potential of hiding in places like the brain cells of the bones marrow, the cells in different places, and it develops resistance to drug.
The HIV/AIDS virus is such that can be transmitted by various means namely, by sex, infected needles, blood transfusion, child birth and other means. However, the most prominent means is by sex and hence more importantly by exchange of blood can lead to transfusion of HIV.
According to the Ministry of Healthy in Nigeria, Nigerians infected with HIV, now numbered 3,47 million, and in Benue and Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Anambra and Abuja are said to have the highest prevalence rate. The HIV scourge is actually threatening Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. HIV disproportionately affect future leaders. In Nigeria, ages 15 and 47 account for more than 70 percent of HIV infections. Nearly 80 percent HIV transmission unprotected sexual intercourse. In this regards, the none Governmental organizations NGOs, international bodies and government have through lectures, seminars, handbills newspapers and magazines and electronic media and other means created awareness on the nature and effects of HIV/AIDS. AKBC radio campaign is believed to be the most appropriate channel through which the far-flung heterogeneous people within the country and state could be reach as quickly as possible and subsequently educate about the HIV/AIDS disease, how to prevent, curb and hopefully overcome it totally. Few factors can impact our ability to protect ourselves from HIV more than our level of self-esteem. Recently young people in Nigeria have been moderately affected by the globally HIV epidemic. Today, however the HIV epidemic in Africa is one of the rapidly increasing epidemics in the world. It is mainly concentrated to vulnerable groups such as intravenous drug users, sex workers, the purchase of sexual services and the financially marginalized.
Statement of the Problem
The foremost, of the problem is the extent to which AKBC is able to educate and enlighten the public especially the youth on how to prevent HIV/AIDS since high level of illiteracy and low education has been attributed to high spread of the deadly disease.
The study will also show the degree at which the AKBC radio Campaign has gone among the general population especially the youth of Ikot Ekpene Local Government. Other problems include but not limited to the level of effectiveness of AKBC radio Campaign in reducing the spread of the deadly disease, HIV/AIDS by keeping large number of the public aware of the dangers inherent in HIV/AIDS. With the ability of the AKBC radio to reach a wide range of people, how has it been able to effectively educate the youths of Ikot Ekpene on the HIV/AIDS scourge.