HIV: ‘Nasiba’ film set to address discrimination issues
Over the years a lot has been said and written about the HIV disease which continues to threaten human existence across the globe, especially Africa which has the largest number of people living with the dreaded virus.
The victims of HIV continue to grapple with the issue of discrimination, which prompted a Kaduna-based film producer, Mannir Yusuf Nadabo to make his latest film, aimed at educating and creating awareness regarding interactions with HIV patients.
The film titled ‘Nasiba’, which is expected to be released before the end of the first quarter of this year, tells the story of a brave young northern Nigerian girl who was forced into an early marriage which led to her contracting the disease.
What follows next has been described by many who have followed the story as both eye opening and inspiring. The central character, Nasiba, at first thought her life was over when she suffered massive discrimination, but went on to live a perfectly productive life after advice and counselling from a youth corper who was posted to the town of ‘Baida’.
Nadabo said what inspired him to go for a story with such an edgy plot is due to his interactions with people living with HIV and listening to stories of the discrimination they go through in their everyday life.
“Do you know that in some cases, even the parents become strangers to people living with HIV? If we don’t get love from family, which is the basic unit, where else can we get it?” He asked, adding that empowerment is key, because it helps the carrier overcome some of the challenges he or she is facing.
“In the case of Nasiba, after she contracted the disease from her husband, she became ostracized from the community. She wasn’t even allowed to sit with other people, but she became strong and pursued her dreams after corper Munira entered her life.” Nadabo said.
Nadabo said it’s a shame that all the efforts and finances put together for “the amazing project” came from his personal savings and donations from a few friends, adding that no government or NGO intervention came their way.
“We wrote to several offices like NACA and UNICEF on the issue, but we are yet to get any favourable response, so we continued on our own. The issues highlighted in Nasiba are very important for societal balance and justice, as they also include girl child education and women empowerment.”
Speaking to Daily Trust on the film, Danjuma Maigari, a person living with HIV for nearly ten years, said he was happy when he heard about the film, ‘Nasiba’ because many people are still in the dark about the disease.
Maigari talked about some of the discriminations he suffered himself, and how his uncle and wife, whom he stays with, gave him separate eating utensils.
“It was a painful time for me and one of the reasons why I moved out to stay on my own, but I’m glad that episode is behind me now and I live a better life. I do a lot of exercises and l always take my drugs at the right time, which is very important for our illness.”
Star of the film, Hauwa Abubakar Ayawa who played Nasiba, said she’s proud to have landed such an important role in her movie career and is hoping her portrayal will help change people’s attitude toward HIV aids victims for the better.
“It is a very important role because there are many going through discrimination at this time, this will empower them and make them strong, not forgetting the fact that the society will also learn how to accommodate those with the disease for the better.” She concluded.