In a landmark demonstration of its giant strides in the sphere of learning, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma has held its 112nd inaugural lecture, with a call to show support and kindness to people infected with diseases.
The inaugural lecture titled “To be infected is not to be stigmatised: An invitation for socio-medical balancing” was a captivating intellectual journey through the lens of a medical sociologist, Professor Theophilus Agweda, who is the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (ADVC) of the university.
In his erudite presentation, Prof Agweda unravelled the major frantic efforts that could help to mitigate the discrimination and stigmatization levels against persons who have been infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
The distinguished Professor shared extensive knowledge, guiding his audience through his presentation which he divided into seven neatly knitted parts, viz: Reflecting on the Basics of Medical Sociology, Health and Illness Relations, Demystifying HIV/AIDS as Infectious Disease in History, Rethinking Stigmatization and Its Implication on HIV/AIDS Patients, Effects of Stigmatization, among others.
He shared his insightful experiences during the period under review, explaining how he had engaged people of different categories/professions (including teenagers, youths, the elderly as well as Persons Living with the Virus), to get adequate knowledge, while x-raying ways through which HIV/AIDS can be contracted, managed and treated, noting that HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence.
He stressed the need to deliberately and consciously support PLWHA by showing some support, kindness, empathy, discipline, determination and circumspection which are key aspects of social medical balancing.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Prof. Sonnie Adagbonyin, disclosed that the lecture was delivered timely, as individuals who are infected with various diseases are often targeted and become victims of stigmatization, noting that socio-medical balancing is an approach that seeks to mitigate social and medical perspectives in addressing health and wellbeing.
High point of the ceremony was the official decoration of the Inaugural lecturer, Prof. Theophilus Agweda, by the Acting Vice Chancellor, who welcomed him to the Committee of AAU’s academic giants.
