2018 World AIDS Day : Only 38 per cent of Nigerians know their HIV status-AHF

The Country Program Director, AIDS HealthCare Foundation, AHF, Dr. Echey Ijezie, has said that only about 38 per cent of Nigerians are aware of their HIV status. Ijezie made this statement during the foundation’s commemoration of 2018 World AIDS Day with a series of activities which culminated in a road walk in Abuja. He said […]

The Country Program Director, AIDS HealthCare Foundation, AHF, Dr. Echey Ijezie, has said that only about 38 per cent of Nigerians are aware of their HIV status.

Ijezie made this statement during the foundation’s commemoration of 2018 World AIDS Day with a series of activities which culminated in a road walk in Abuja.

He said “Globally and in Nigeria, there are several millions of people who are HIV positive and do not know their status.”

“We encourage all Nigerians to get tested as a large proportion are still not aware of their status”, he said.

He said, to mark the day they are conducting HIV screening for about 50,000 Nigerians and distributing about 300,000 condoms across the six states they operate.

He said the theme of this year’s activity is “Know Your Status’’.

He added that 2018 is major landmark for AHF as an organisation as world-wide they have passed over 1 million patients-in-care.

The Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, called on Nigerians to get tested to enable them know their HIV status.

“World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 globally. I had my test a few days ago and I encourage everyone to get tested to know their status,” the DG said.

He explained that that the Day, which was commemorated annually on December 1st, provides the platform for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV and also stigmatization.