Anti-Gay Marriage Act won’t affect funding – FG

The Federal Government on Friday in Abuja doused apprehensions that the Assent by President Goodluck Jonathan to the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013, effectively making the provisions of the Act an operative law in Nigeria would not affect funding or have any negative  impact on the fight against the disease in Nigeria.

The Untied States of America has also stated that it would spend about $500 million in 2014 as part of its contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

The Barack Obama administration said it was not going to back out of its funding for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria as a protest against the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act recently signed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The government in a statement by the Director-General of National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Prof.John Idoko, said although the law has generated much debate and anxiety on the implications of the passage, especially as it affects HIV programming, it would however not affect the crusade and against the disease and funding in Nigeria.

Idoko said, “A perusai of the Same Sex Marriage Act 2013, makes clear that the provisions thereof do not have any negative effect on the HIV/ AIDS Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support Programs or any other such programs currently in operation in Nigeria.

Nothing in the same sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 refers to or prohibits programs targeted at Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support for people living with HIV or affected by AIDS in Nigeria. No provision of this law will deny anybody in Nigeria access to HIVtreatment and other medical services.

“The government of Nigeria remains fully committed to improving the health of Nigerians and preventing all AIDS related deaths, and therefore will continue to ensure that Nigerians have access to the requisite services that they may require as guaranteed by the constitution.”

A statement from the Information Office (Public Affairs Section) in the

US Embassy in Nigeria and obtained by SATURDAY PUNCH in Abuja said the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, made the clarification during the premiere of Shuga 3 TV series, a unique approach to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The event was put together by PEPFAR, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MTV Staying Alive Foundation and National Agency for the Control of AIDS.

He said, “Now, I had not planned to discuss the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act which was recently signed into law here.  I want, however, to clarify what I said to the press on Monday when I was asked about this subject. Some of the subsequent reporting has suggested that I said the United States was going to cut back its support for HIV/AIDS programming in this country as a result of the bill.

PUNCHNG