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February 14 every year is celebrated in Nigeria and in most parts of the world as Valentine’s Day, and AIDs Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has said it will distribute 250,000 free condoms in six states of the federation in commemoration of the 2020 International Condom Day (ICD).
Mr Steve Aborisade, the Advocacy and Marketing Manager of AHF Nigeria in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday stated that the 2020 ICD with “Safer is Fun” as its theme, and is celebrated annually on February 13, in conjunction with Valentine’s Day that is celebrated on February 14.
He said that AHF would mark the day with a road walk, 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 the AHF Advocacy and Marketing Manager said will take place 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 pregnancy, HIV and Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs), as well as promote healthy lifestyles.
He quoted Ijezie as saying “on February 13 and February 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.
“Presently, AHF-Nigeria is collaborating with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and NOI Polls in a nationwide survey on the condom culture of Nigerians.
“This is an effort to support the Nigerian national condom policy and marketing approach to bridge the country’s annual condom gap of about 600 million.”
Terri Ford, the AHF Chief Global Policy and Advocacy, also said that distributing free condoms to people who needed them most had always been a priority for the foundation.
Ford said the foundation would step up its advocacy around the world to help break down barriers to access as condoms remained the most cost-effective option for preventing HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancies.
The President of AHF, Michael Weinstein, said “ICD is a great way to remind people everywhere that HIV and STIs are still major global health threats.
“These threats can be avoided by regularly and correctly using condoms.
“There are 1.7 million new HIV infections annually and more than one million new cases of curable STIs every day, according to UNAIDSand the World Health Organisation, 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.”
AHF is the largest global AIDS organisation taking care of more than 1.3 million lives across 43 countries, including Nigeria.