NACA, AHF mark valentine’s day with HIV/ AIDS testing, advocates protection, abstinence

During the commemoration of 2017 International Condom Day in Abuja, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Dr. Sani Aliyu warned youths on the need for abstinence, protection to end the scourge of HIV/AIDS.

At the event which was organised by NACA in collaboration with AIDS Health Care Foundation (AHF) Dr Aliyu, said that “The main message is that if you are not sexually active, abstinence is the best way to stop acquiring HIV/AIDS. But if you are sexually active make sure you know your HIV/AIDS status and use a condom as much as possible to protect yourself.”

The Country Programme Manager for AHF, Dr Adetayo Towolawi, said that apart from abstinence, the use of condom is a veritable tool in the prevention of HIV/AIDS that is why condoms will never go out of style hence the theme “Always in fashion”.

AHF’s Abuja Clinic Coordinator Dr. Kema Anthony Onu said the he believes that the message is getting through to the targeted audience, but the challenge is in the implementation.

He said “everybody knows about condom but not everybody wants to use it despite the fact that they are readily available. That is the orientation we seek to change.”

He however clarified that “We are not preaching sex, we are saying that abstinence is the most effective way to prevent HIV/AIDS but condom is the most realistic way, and we are being realistic in the face of the epidemic we are facing in terms of infection and death therefore we cannot over-emphasize the importance of condoms.”