World Condom Day: Foundation distributes 145,000 condoms in 4 states

Ahead of this year’s World Condom Day, the AIDS Health Care Foundation(AHF), an NGO, says it will distribute 145,000 condoms in four states in North Central Nigeria.

The Advocacy Manager of the group, Mrs Oluwakemi Gbadamosi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

She said that the distribution of the condoms as well as other activities lined up for this year’s occasion would help increase awareness on condom use and its role in preventing HIV/AIDS.

She said that interested persons in Abuja, Nasarawa, Benue and Kogi states would be provided with the commodity.

Gbadamosi said the activities lined up for this year’s celebration were in consonance with the theme for this year, which is ``Condoms are Cool’’.

Gbadamosi said the theme was chosen to emphasise the importance of condoms and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

``Globally there has been a great decline in the use and availability of condoms; that is why we are advocating for more use of the mode of protection.

``It is really cool because it is not just to protect yourself but also to protect your loved ones, we feel it is easier and better to use condoms because it can achieve 85 to 90 per-cent protection,’’ said Gbadamosi.

She also said that condom use should be encouraged among the younger population such as the sexually active group.

The manager said the foundation further reawakened the awareness of condom use in higher institutions and also engaged in HIV/AIDS debates at NYSC camps.

``Abstinence is the only way to avoid becoming infected with HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

``However, we at AHF we believe that condoms are very important and effective in the prevention of these diseases if used consistently and correctly,’’ she said.

The manager said the foundation would organise community outreach on HIV and AIDS, counselling, testing, sensitisation and awareness campaign at the Kpaduma community in Abuja.

She said the community dialogue would further help to address stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS.

NAN also reports that the foundation has tested more than 300,000 people for HIV and AIDS in the benefitting four states over the last four years as well as distributed more than two million condoms across Nigeria.

The World Condom Day holds every Feb. 13, but was rescheduled in Nigeria due to the country’s general election earlier scheduled for Feb. 14.

The polls were, however, shifted to March 28 and April 11, for the Presidential/NASS and governorship/state assembly, respectively.