AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Nigeria has commemorated the 2019 International Condom Day (ICD), to promote prevention of STIs, HIV and unwanted pregnancies by freely distributing condom and holding safer sex awareness activities.
Speaking during an awareness rally which started at Area 3 Garki and climaxed at Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Art and Culture in Abuja on Thursday, AHF Nigeria Medical Director, Dr. Emmanuel Nwabueze said the awareness creation is not a one-off thing as promotion of the use of condom continues in all their activities.
“AHF is trying to support the eradication of HIV through the prevention by using condom. We all know that condoms helps in prevention of STI’s which HIV is part of it.
“It also helps in prevention of pregnancies. So with promotion of ICD we are helping the federal government of Nigeria to prevent HIV spread,” he noted.
“We have to protect ourselves from sexually transmitted infections,” said AHF State Nursing coordinator, Christy Awunor who urged women to take the necessary steps toward self-protection as they are more susceptible to STI’s.
The organisation’s FCT State Clinical Coordinator, Dr. Kema Onu speaking on the theme “Safer is Fun” said, “We want to let every youth to know that this (use of condom) is one major strategy we can use to stop and reverse the trends of HIV in this country.”
The Advocacy and Marketing Manager in Nigeria, Steve Aborisade, had earlier stated that the rally will simultaneously take place across six states in Nigeria; Abuja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Anambra and Cross River States.
Worldwide ICD is celebrated on the 13th of February, AHF Nigeria marked it on the 7th due to elections.