Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria ACPN has asked Nigerians to check their HIV/AIDS status every three months following the continued spread of the virus in sub-Sahara Africa,
The Chairman of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Rivers State Chapter, Agboma Esom-Ibe said this during a free HIV/AIDS awareness campaign and screening exercise at the Slaughter market in Port Harcourt.
World Aids Day is a day set aside by the World Health Organization WHO every first December to create awareness on the dangers of the disease and how to curtail it.
Over 37 million people globally are affected by the disease and the Chairman of ACPN in River State Agboma Esom-Ibe said the number is alarming.
She said regular HIV tests and continue awareness campaigns will reduce the spread of the disease in Nigeria.
The ACPN Chairman hinted that the aim of the free medical campaign is to provide Rivers residents with the real facts about HIV/AIDS and how to protect themselves.
”As at the last count as at 2018 about 37 million people are living with HIV/AIDS globally, look at the world population, look at the percentage that 37 million make up to and that is very unhealthy”.
”And the theme of this year’s World Aids Day is ‘Communities Make the Difference’ so because if there is an awareness, you can share the facts and not myths. We are here to share the fact to make a difference to inform them that this disease can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, sharing of unsterilized sharp objects, mother to child transmission, occupation hazards and transfusion of unscreened blood” she said.
Agboma Esom-Ibe also advised Nigerians to abstain from unprotected sex and sting with one partner.
She added that abstinence from sex until marriage is still the best protection from HIV/AIDS.
Some of the participants who spoke to our correspondent commended the pharmacists for the free HIV test.
