A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), AIDs Health Care Foundation
(AHF), will distribute 250,000 condoms in six states of the federation
along with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in commemoration of the
2020 International Condom Day (ICD).
According to the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Steve Aborisade, the marketing manager of AHF
Nigeria, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
He
stated that the 2020 ICD, with “Safer is Fun” as its theme, will be
celebrated on Feb. 13, to commemorate Saint Valentine’s Day which is
celebrated on February 14 annually.
He said that AHF would
mark the day with a road walk, free distribution of condoms and HIV
testing and counselling exercise across six AHF-Nigeria programme states
of Benue, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Nasarawa, Anambra and Abuja.
Other activities include entertainment and educational “Safer is Fun” activities alongside advocacy messages.
The
marketing manager noted that Dr Echey Ijezie, the Country Programme
Director of the foundation in Nigeria had reiterated commitment toward
ensuring increased access to condom as the world celebrates ICD.
He
said the use of condom would assist in preventing unwanted pregnancy,
HIV and Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs), as well as promote
healthy lifestyles.
Quoting Ijezie, he said “on Feb. 13 and Feb.
14, we will show Nigerians how Safer is Fun and why we urgently need to
take advocacy for condom access to a higher level.
“This is
critical as people cannot take charge of their health if widespread
stock outs, shortages and unaffordable prices for condoms continue.
“There
are 1.7 million new HIV infections annually and more than one million
new cases of curable STIs every day, according to UNAIDS and the World
Health Organisation (WHO), respectively.
“That is unacceptable
when these conditions are 100 per cent preventable, thus, governments
and global health organisations must do more to ensure that people have
easy access to free or affordable condoms.”