The menace of HIV/AIDS: The Role of Information Scientist/Librarians

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is an unprecedented crisis that demands an exceptional response. More that 40 million people are infected with HIV, over 20 million have died, and there are more than 15 million AIDS orphans (UNDP HIV/AIDS, 2004). The AIDS pandemic is a threat to the future of nations. It has created new
pockets of poverty with the deaths of parents and breadwinners, leaving children as orphan, who have to leave school earlier and work to support other siblings. The illiteracy level of the society has risen to the point of inadequate access to information; information is the most potent weapon available to mankind to fight HIV/AIDS. This paper argues that given the vintage position of information scientist/librarians as custodians and disseminators of information. The Librarians are in the best position to stop HIV/AIDS
from crippling Nigerian citizenry. Finally, possible strategies were offered to tackle the menace of HIV/AIDS.