News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura Makurdi
As Nigeria plans to celebrate this year’s International Condom Day (ICD), a Non Governmental Organization NGO, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, (AHF) Nigeria, has flayed the declining use of condoms in many parts of the globe.
The organization described it as a worrisome trend especially that more than 1million Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are being acquired on daily basis worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
To address the issue, the Country Programme Director of AHF Nigeria, Dr. Echey Ijezie, said this year, AHF Nigeria will commemorate ICD at Lokoja, Kogi state on Wednesday February 13 with exciting activities, free condom distribution, and engaging education on the use of condom.
He said ending HIV/AIDS must include prioritizing the prevention of new HIV cases a goal that cannot be achieved without promoting condoms as an essential tool.
“To address this, AHF Nigeria’s ICD event will include a road walk involving students of higher institutions and members of the civil society in Kogi, including the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport worker (NURTW) with government officials from the state’s Ministry of Health and the State Agency for the Control of AIDS amongst others.
“There will be free distribution of AHF branded condoms (Love and Icon) as we match from the Kogi state Ministry of Health through the Post Office, all the way to the Ganaja bridge, through the Specialist Hospital and terminates at the Federal University Lokoja”.
Dr. Ijezie announced that across the six other AHF Nigeria states , Abuja-FCT, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River and Nasarawa, testing campaign shall take place with free condom distribution while youths from Kogi, Abuja, Benue, Cross River and Nasarawa are participating in a video challenge to promote safe sex.
“We’re reminding everyone that using condoms is the best way to prevent HIV, other STIs, and unplanned pregnancies. AHF created this day to promote safer sex and make condoms accessible for all. When used correctly, condoms are proven to be effective protection for you and your partner. So, no excuses, wrap it up every time,” he said.
According to him, using condoms is the best way to prevent HIV, other STIs, and unplanned pregnancies. He invited Nigerians to join the movement to celebrate condoms and discover fun, creative ways to promote condom use.
The AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Dr. Penninah Iutung, said “condoms are the most cost-effective method of protecting against HIV and other STIs, but observed that many Africans lack access due to barriers such as stockouts, unaffordable prices, and high taxation”.
“Additionally, labelling condoms as medical devices, further increases cost and reduces their affordability”.
He urged governments at all levels and stakeholders to remove these barriers, prioritize funding, and ensure that condoms are free, affordable or accessible to all who need them.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global non-profit organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than two million people in 48 countries worldwide in Africa, the Americas, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Europe.
