YULETIDE: DON’T LOSE GUARD AGAINST HIV PREVENTION—NACA CAUTIONS

REPORTER: JOHN MADUAGWU

As Nigerians prepare for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) wants them not to engage in activities that will affect them adversely.

The South East Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Dr. Miriam Ezekwe, made the plea while speaking with Radio Nigeria in Umuahia.

Dr. Ezekwe notes that as people get preoccupied with the joy and happiness of celebrating the Christmas and New Year, their perception of risk tends to reduce, even though the risk remains the same throughout the year.

The NACA Zonal Coordinator warned against engaging in unprotected sex, ascertain the HIV status of new friends they make while couples in a distant marriage who get to see only at the end of the year may jointly go for a test.

Dr. Ezekwe called on men and women while beautifying themselves to take due measures to safeguard themselves from HIV as some of them would have to share sharp objects with people whom they do not know their status.

She also urged those already on HIV treatment not to get carried away during the celebrations and avoid taking their drugs.

She reiterated the determination of the agency towards ensuring that by 2030, 95% of Nigerians would have been tested and known their status.

According to the NACA Zonal boss, those known to be positive should be put on treatment and ensuring the firm suppression of the viral of 95% percent of those on treatment.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU