COMBATING THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC THROUGH MULTIFACETED HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

HIV/AIDS is an incurable viral infection. To date, it is a global phenomenon. However, the scourge appears to be more pronounced in developing countries, like Nigeria. This paper discussed four broad variables responsible for the said pandemic disease namely; a.) mass illiteracy/wide-spread ignorance of the epidemiology of the disease, b.) poverty, c.) cultural practices and d.)unprotected sexual adventures. Specific media for HIV/AIDS transmission were also discussed which include cultism, traditional medicine procedures; tattooing/tribal marks, implantation of charms into the body for immunity purpose; medical insemination, blood transfusion, etc. It showed that the disease has elastic incubation period, with negative impacts on the home, the community and the nation from social, psychological and economic perspectives. The conclusion was that priority should be given more to HIV/AIDS prevention/control rather than to its medical cure. Therefore, utility of multi-faceted health education processes via the use of audio aids, visual aids and a combination of audio-visual aids - in schools, homes, village squares and public libraries were highly recommended to reduce its prevalence. These have three objectives of bringing about positive changes in the “awareness”, “attitude” and “behaviour” of people regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and control mechanisms.