NACA Advices Nigerian Youths To Buy Condoms On Valentine

National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA)advices Nigerian youths to buy condoms on Valentine.

 

Wednesday 14th February is Valentine's Day globally. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has given out some caution to Nigerians, especially youths, to “love wisely or buy condoms’’ as they make plans to celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day.

The Director General of NACA, Sani Aliyu, gave the warning in a statement issued by the Head, Public Relations and Protocol of the agency, Toyin Aderibigbe, in Abuja Monday.

The statement quoted Aliyu as saying: “As we express love on this day, remember to love wisely.

“As members of the wider society, your health and productivity is vital to the future of our country.

“I urge you also to take advantage of the spirit of love and togetherness that the Valentine’s Day signifies to know your HIV status.’’

Aliyu disclosed that knowing one’s HIV status was necessary because of the present high prevalence rate of HIV infection among young persons under ages 15 and 24 in Nigeria.

“It is important to reduce this worrying trend among Nigerian youths by encouraging faithful relationships; for those who cannot abstain from sex, the use of barrier protection such as condoms is advised.

“Condoms prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), HIV and unwanted pregnancies.

“The practice of having multiple sexual partners increases HIV vulnerability among the youth population alongside the very low HIV testing rates.

“It is worthwhile to know that only 17 per cent of young people know their HIV status; as such this is alarming enough to make them avoid risky behaviours.

“They should share love and not HIV,’’ the statement further quoted the NACA boss as saying.

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