3,000 residents get free HIV test, counselling
About 3,000 residents of Obi Constituency of Nasarawa State have been provided free HIV test and counselling. The exercise was organised by a member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Sarki Dahiru, with support from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) toward ensuring that every Nigerian knows his or her HIV status, […]
About 3,000 residents of Obi Constituency of Nasarawa State have been provided free HIV test and counselling.
The exercise was organised by a member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Sarki Dahiru, with support from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) toward ensuring that every Nigerian knows his or her HIV status, and ending AIDS by 2030.
The residents were also provided free malaria, high blood pressure, and diabetes tests as well as drugs, condoms and HIV prevention tools and educational materials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Abubakar Sarki Dahiru said the exercise was organised as part of the 2019 constituency project to empower residents of the area with information on how to prevent HIV transmission, and to provide other medical services such as malaria tests, high blood pressure check, blood sugar level check and also avail residents the opportunity to test for HIV.
Dahiru, who was represented by the Executive Secretary to Obi Local Government Area, Abdulmalik Abdullahi, added that HIV testing was a very important part of the outreach being carried out within Obi constituency.
Representative of Niphemy Solutions Limited, who coordinated the outreach on behalf of Abubarkar Sarki Dahiru, said the organisers were excited about the large turnout of residents of Obi community.
He said the outreach also included a visit to the Paramount Chief of Obi Local Government Area Osuko Obi, Aliyu Dangwa Ogiri Orume, and roadshows across Oleye, Oriso, Ope, Oyara, Oloso, Angwan Dankali, brothels, and motorcycle parks within Obi constituency area, as well as placement of radio and television jingles in the state broadcasting services.
A beneficiary of the exercise, Hajiya Hauwa Abdulmalik, who came with her husband and three-year-old daughter, thanked Dahiru for the medical outreach saying it gave her the opportunity to do a health check and receive malaria drugs for her sick daughter.
Another beneficiary who simply identified himself as Danny Boy said the HIV education provided him courage to test for HIV for the first time in his life.