Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN), a non-governmental organization has harped on regular testing as an effective measure to combat the HIV and AIDS scourge in Nigeria.
The group stressed this at the weekend during its health walk held in Abuja with the aim of creating awarness on the need for Nigerians to do a regular test to know their HIV status.
Mr. Adewole Odusanya, BAN Coordinator, northern zone speaking at the event, said regular testing will enable Nigerians know their status and will reduce the disease burden in the country. According to him, knowing ones status will make them aware of the options available, 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, people are still not aware of the importance of regular testing and little is being done in that regards. This, he said informed the health walk organised by BAN and supported by MTN Nigeria and Aids Health Foundation (AHF).
“This health walk is to sensitize people and make them aware of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and the need for regular testing. HIV is a disease that we are all susceptible to, so, we decided to support the government because they cannot do it alone”, he said.
Odusanya further informed that BAN has recorded huge successes in its campaign against HIV. He said not less than 2000 people have been given free HIV testing, while some others have been provided with counselling services.
Mr Obinna Duru, Chairman BAN Sport Committee also speaking, informed that free HIV testing testing will be provided to Abuja residents. He said HIV can be lived with, saying it’s not a killer diseases like hepatitis, cancer, but harped on early testing as the best bet at tackling it.
He however frowned at the stigmatization against persons living with HIV/AIDS. He pointed out that the disease cannot be transferred by talking to a patient, kissing or touching a HIV patient but is only transferred through bodily fluids during sexual intercourse, sharing of unsterilised needles or razor.
He said, “We should not run away from persons living with HIV, there is no need for it, we should accept them, this is what we are preaching against.”
Duru however adviced that abstinence, use of condom or being faithful to one’s partner are ways to prevent spread of the disease.
Mrs. Busola Oyedeji, a participant at the event applauded the innitiative saying the awareness created reminded her of the need to ensure regular testing. She noted that prevention is always better than cure and a good way to prevent HIV is regular testing.
Ziya-ulhaq Dambatta
Sales Representative, MTN Nigeria,
FCT Subregion, while commending the innitiative, said MTN’s partnership with BAN is part of it’s corporate social responsibility to ensure that Nigerians live a healthy life.
“This is a good initiative and a lot of people who have participated are eager to know their status. This is good, the counselling being given to those who test positive is also good”, he said.
Dambatta therefore adviced government and non governmental bodies to tow in the same line as a way of giving back to the society.
Nnamdi Ezemoh, FCT chapter Coordinator explained that BAN has worked over the years to fight diseases in Nigeria as well as helping the less privileged in the country.
Free HIV testing was provided by AHF Nigeria at the event.
