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As part of the commemoration of World AIDS Day 2018, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) plans to provide free HIV testing to approximately 50,000 Nigerians in Abuja, Anambra, Cross River, Kogi, Benue and Nasarawa. than distribute 300,000 free condoms in these states.
According to Echey Ijezie, Country Program Director of the AHF, "It is in line with the AHF's mandate to assist and contribute to the eradication of HIV / AIDS in Nigeria by supporting the Nigerian government's efforts through Health Intermediary and the National AIDS Agency (NACA). & # 39; & # 39;
The foundation will also provide free condoms to community organizations, civil society organizations, networks and partner associations to support their advocacy efforts to commemorate World AIDS Day.
In Abuja, FCT, the AHF is collaborating with the National AIDS Agency (NACA) to provide:
- STI Screening
- Distribution of condoms and tampons
- Blood glucose control and tips
- Checking the blood pressure and counseling
This is apart from the mobile community film screening in Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, where free sanitary napkins will also be distributed to needy girls, as well as free HIV testing in the community.
Dr. Echey Ijezie said that the AHRF's World AIDS Day screening campaign was in line with the global theme of the day: Know Your Status, which is remarkable given the poor attitude at the World AIDS Day. HIV testing in our society and reminds stakeholders of the need to keep the promises made on AIDS. & # 39; & # 39;
Certainly, in the world and in the country, several million people are HIV positive and do not know their status. With Nigeria being the second largest HIV epidemic in the world and one of the highest rates of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa, it has become important to get people tested for their HIV status.
According to UNAIDS, about two-thirds of new HIV infections in West and Central Africa in 2017 occurred in Nigeria. UNAIDS reports that few adolescents are routinely tested for HIV in Nigeria. In 2017, according to the World AIDS Agency, only 2% of men aged 15 to 19 and 4% of women had been tested for HIV in the past 12 months.
In the six AHF states, the teams are strategically located in different parts of the states to provide free HIV counseling and testing services.
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