No fewer than 500 members of Ilaje Community in Bariga, Lagos have undergone sensitisation, test and counselling exercise carried out by Hacey Health in partnership with Access Bank on HIV/AIDs in commemoration of the World AIDS Day.
Beneficiaries which include adults and children were sensitised on HIV/AIDS, mode of transmission, prevention and the importance of regular HIV/AIDS screening.
”Continued collaboration is needed between government, non-profits and private sector organisation in raising awareness, providing free counselling and testing as well as providing anti-retroviral therapy, including providing support for those affected by the virus,” Rhoda Robinson, executive director, Hacey Health said during the sensitisation program, according to a statement.
In the same vein, Segun Zebulon, community leader of Ilaje expressed his concerns for the community.
According to him, there is no hospital and medical facilities close to the community for people living with HIV/AIDS and that most people living in the community have little knowledge of HIV prevalence, with many afraid to go for testing.
He called for more of this initiative in the community to help enlighten people and also to know their HIV/AIDS status.
A beneficiary of the seminar, Salvador noted that the awareness and sensitisation program has made two persons living in the community realise that they were HIV positive which would have remained unknown to them if the sensitisation and testing exercise were not carried out in the community.
She appreciated Hacey and Access Bank for the initiative while imploring them to link the two people who tested positive to the virus to centers they can get affordable treatment.
During the sensitisation program, there was emphasis on the need for pregnant women to ensure they get tested for HIV to know their status early to prevent mother to child transmission.
The program was held with support from Access bank in commemoration of World AIDS Day which is celebrated on the 1st of December yearly.
