| NIJ,
this is all-advised
By Sun News
Friday, July 16, 2004
The decision by the Academic Board of the Nigerian Institute
of Journalism (NIJ) Ogba, Lagos State, to terminate the studentship
of one Adegboye Frederick Ibikunle on account of his health
status is pig-headed.
According to reports, Mr. Ibikunle who tested HIV positive
at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital last year had, without
prompting, disclosed to the authorities of NIJ that he was
on the anti-retroviral (ARV) programme at the University College
Hospital Ibadan.
But if Ibikunle expected sympathy from the institution, what
he got was stigmatization. The authorities of the institution
met on the issue and decided to withdraw the admission they
had earlier offered him. Now, Ibikunle, a member of the Positive
Life Association of Nigeria, a support group for people living
with HIV, appears left in the cold. If he had aspired to continue
to approach life and living positively regardless of his endangered
health, his rejection by the authorities of NIJ may have,
wittingly or unwittingly, inflicted more mental damage on
him.
We recognise the right of the institution to withdraw or terminate
the studentship of any of its students whenever the need arises.
But the reason for the action in this instance is wrong. The
institution did not, on its own, discover Ibikunle's health
problem through a compulsory medical test for students. Rather,
the student chose to be true to the authorities by disclosing
his health condition. He therefore deserves sympathy and assistance
rather than rejection.
In medical circles, people's health conditions are regarded
as private. They are, except in situations where they are
unavoidable, not for public consumption. Even when public
institutions get confidential medical reports about their
employees or students as the case may be, they handle such
information confidentially. In the case of Ibikunle, NIJ,
apparently, did not take into consideration the right of the
student to his private life. By withdrawing his admission
in a manner that exposed the student to public derision, the
authorities of NIJ have erred.
Besides, it has always been preached, and we share such views,
that HIV/AIDs patients need love and care rather rejection
and discrimination. By throwing Ibikunle out in the manner
it has done, NIJ is making him a social outcast. This is dangerous
because in his frustration and anger, he could become vicious
and monstrous. Neither Ibikunle nor any other HIV/AIDs sufferer
deserves this treatment. We urge the authorities of NIJ to
recall him and even make appropriate restitutions.
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