Sunday Okobi
A non-governmental and advocacy organisation,
Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN), has harped on the need for regular testing as an
effective measure to combat the HIV and AIDS scourge in Nigeria.
BAN stated this during its Health Walk which was
recently held in Abuja with the aim to create awareness on the need for
Nigerians to do a regular test to know their HIV status.
The Northern Zone Coordinator of the group, Mr.
Adewale Odusanya, while speaking at the event, said regular testing would
enable Nigerians to know their status and consequently reduce the disease
burden on the country.
According to him, knowing ones status will make
him/her aware of the options available on how to live with the disease if
positive and how to prevent it if negative.
He, however, expressed concern that despite the popularity
of HIV globally, many people are still not aware of the importance of regular
testing, adding that regrettably, little effort is being shown in that
regards.
Odusanya said this informed the Health Walk
organised by BAN, which was supported by MTN Nigeria and Aids Health Foundation
(AHF).
He explained that: “This Health Walk is to
sensitise the people and create awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS in the
society and the need for regular testing.
“HIV is a disease that we are all susceptible to,
so, we decided to support the government because it cannot do it alone.”
Odusanya further stated that BAN has recorded huge
successes in its campaign against HIV and its scourge, adding that not less
than 2,000 people have been given free HIV testing, while some others have been
provided with counseling services.
Also in his remark, the Chairman of BAN Sport
Committee, Mr. Obinna Duru, disclosed that free HIV testing would be provided
for all Nigerians resident in Abuja.
He said HIV can be lived with, and that it’s not a
killer diseases like hepatitis, cancer among others, but harped on early
testing as the best bet to tackle it.
He, however, frowned at the stigmatisation against
persons living with HIV/AIDS, pointing out that the disease cannot be
transferred by talking to a patient, kissing or touching an HIV patient but
only transferred through bodily fluids during sexual intercourse, sharing of
un-sterilised needles or razors.
“We should not run away from persons living with
HIV; there is no need for it, and we should accept them as our brothers and
sisters, this is what we are preaching to the world,” he said.
Duru, therefore, advised that abstinence, use of
condom or being faithful to one's partner is common ways to prevent the spread
of the disease.
A participant at the event, Mrs. Busola Oyedeji,
applauded the initiative, saying the awareness created by BAN reminded her of
the need to ensure regular testing, noting “that prevention is always better
than cure and a good way to prevent HIV is regular testing.”
The Sales Representative of MTN Nigeria, FCT
Sub-region, Ziya-ulhaq Dambatta, while commending the inventiveness against the
scourge of HIV in the society, said MTN partnership with BAN is part of its corporate
social responsibility (CSR) to ensure that Nigerians live a healthy life.
“This is a good initiative for a lot of people who
have participated are eager to know their status. The counseling being given to
those who tested positive is also good and helpful,” he said.
Dambatta, therefore, advised government and
non-governmental bodies to tow in the same line as a way of giving back to the
society.
On his own, the FCT chapter BAN Coordinator, Nnamdi
Ezeomah, explained that BAN has worked over the years to fight diseases in
Nigeria as well as helping the less privileged in the country, adding that the
group is poised to contribute its quota to the development and growth of the
country any time the need arises.
No comments:
Post a Comment