Foundation advocates the use of condom against sexually transmitted Infections

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a non-governmental organization in partnership with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has charged the general public on the use and efficacy of condom in combating Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday in Abuja by Mr Steve Aborisade, the Advocacy and Marketing Manager of AHF Nigeria.

This advocacy is set ahead of the 2023 International Condom Day (ICD), which is annually celebrated on Feb.13, in conjunction with St. Valentine’s Day on Feb.14 respectively. However, this year’s celebration, is set to re-sensitize the public about the importance of the condom as a veritable means of preventing STIs, HIV and unplanned pregnancies.

Mr Steve Aborisade who quoted Terri Ford, the AHF Chief, Global Advocacy and Policy, says “condom use has significantly impacted the global HIV and AIDS response…The use of condom has averted an estimated 117 million new HIV infections since 1990 in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific’’ he said.

Ford also said that millions of people globally were still without access to condom due to many reasons across various parts of the world, adding that “AHF has placed condom and STIs prevention as its top global priorities.’’

He went further to disclose that the foundation has intensified efforts to get condoms to people throughout the 45
country teams where it is operating, and has planned an in-person and virtual commemorative ICD events.

“AHF Nigeria, in collaboration with NACA and UNFPA Nigeria will host a Twitter-Space and panel discussion where a creative competition on safe sex will be adjudged.”

Dr Echey Ijezie, the foundation’s Country Programme Director, said knowledge about HIV and STIs prevention among adolescents is generally low, and stressed the need for increased enlightenment.

Dr Gambo Aliyu, the Director-General of NACA, also stressed on the need for preventive measures, so as to check new cases and called for strengthened age and contexts specific programmes targeted at the youths.

Established by AHF, a non-profit organisation founded in the 1980s, ICD was a response to the AIDS epidemic, and first introduced in 2009 as a way to help people remember the importance of practicing safe sex.

NAN/Wumi