NACA, AHF, UNFPA advice adolescents against sexually transmitted infections

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

ACoalition

of Civil Society Group, have rose from a meeting in Kano, asking Nigerians to shame enemies of the nation who are behind currency swap, which they described as anti peoples policy and stand firmly behind the the candidature of Bola Ahmad Tinubu.

The Group convener, Ibrahim Suleiman, said on Wednesday that, “we understood with pain to the suffering’s of the innocent Nigerians caused by the persistent fuel scarcity in the country, coupled with the abrupt Naira redesign programmes, but Nigerians should endeavor to shame these enemies of progress and stand solidly behind the Presidential Candidature of Senator Bola Ahmad Tinubu”.

Suleiman alleged that the sinister motives was conceived to inflict hardship on innocent Nigerians and scuttle the candidature of Tinubu.

He further alleged that the new policy, coupled with the current fuel scarcity are the handiwork of some cabals at presidency who are against Tinubu and hellbent in scuttling his presidential bid.

He also attacked the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar for using the new naira policy to engage in campaign of calumny against Tinubu.

“Atiku Abubakar’s remarks on the Naira redesign programme were callous, insensitive and indifferent to the suffering’s of the common man, and this is enough to tell you that Atiku presidency will be bad for Nigeria and Nigerians as he will pursue this kind of policies that will make life miserable for the Citizens”.

“Therefore let us not give chance to Atiku Abubakar and his Party PDP by voting massively for Tinubu and all the other offices running under APC”.

The coalition then appreciated the efforts of the APC Governor’s forum and the leadership of the National Assembly for not only disassociating themselves from the new monetary policy.

“Their efforts is yielding fruits as Supreme Court has halted the move,” he said.

However, the group called on Nigerians to remain calm, law abiding, prayerful and determined to vote for APC and Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu comes 25 February 2023.

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the United Nations Population Fund Nigeria (UNFPA) have urged adolescents in the country to practice safe sex.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Steve Aborisade, Advocacy & Marketing Manager AHF Nigeria, said Condom advocacy is more vital than ever, with more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections acquired daily across the globe and the world falling woefully short on HIV prevention goals in 2021.

“But we can turn the tide by working to ensure people worldwide can access condoms wherever they live – as condoms remain the most affordable way to prevent HIV, other STIs, and unplanned pregnancies!”

The statement said AHF has planned lively in-person and virtual commemorative “Always in Fashion” ICD events throughout its 45 country teams to highlight the importance of condoms and help people take control of their health through access to safer sex education and free or affordable condoms.

“In Nigeria, AHF Nigeria in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the United Nations Population Fund Nigeria (UNFPA) will host a Twitter-Space on February 12, while a panel discussion would be held on the 13th where a creative competition on safe sex would be adjudged as workable strategies to promote safe sex among the population are also examined. Partners shall partake in live radio discussions to provide needed education to the public.

“Knowledge about HIV and

STI prevention among adolescent is generally low, in this regard, we see the need to educate them about the importance of practicing safe sex and by ensuring we make the commodity easily accessible to the population” said Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director.

“It has become important to ensure condom option is made available as a preventive measure to youths and people of reproductive age who may not abstain from sex given the rate of new HIV infections among young people aged 15-24 years, which calls for strengthened age and context-specific programming in this population” said Dr. Gambo Aliyu, Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA)’’.

The statement added that condom use has significantly impacted the global HIV/AIDS response, averting an estimated 117 million new HIV infections since 1990, with close to half in sub-Saharan Africa and more than one-third in Asia and the Pacific. “However, millions of people globally are still without access to condoms due to many reasons across various parts of the world.”

“People want the ability to prevent HIV, other STIs, and unplanned pregnancies – but that becomes much more challenging if widespread condom stockouts, shortages, harmful taxation, and unaffordable prices continue,” said Terri Ford, AHF Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy. “AHF has put condoms and STI prevention at the top of our global priorities to intensify our efforts to get condoms to people throughout our 45 country teams despite the many existing barriers. We encourage everyone to help us promote safer sex!”