Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDs in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund has conducted a two-day football competition at West Itam Secondary School to empower adolescents and youths in selected schools with the aim of preventing Human Immuno Deficiency virus( HIV) through sports.
The Project Manager AKSACA, Enobong Akpan who was the progenitor of “Sports For Life”, advised the students not to have carnal knowledge of the opposite sex but be focused on their studies to actualise their dreams and aspirations, adding that the football programme was an avenue to sensitise adolescents and youths in order to prevent them from sexual transmitted diseases and also from being infected with the HIV virus.
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He admonished the students to protect and stay safe to build themselves and the nation as the state is determined to sustain the mandate of reducing HIV to zero level in 2030.
Akpan advised the students to join hands to combat HIV/AIDS by availing themselves of the free HIV test to know their status, adhering to Counseling from medical officials, collection of HIV materials and the HIV drugs for prevention.
Enobong appreciated Governor Umo Eno for the passion towards developing the health sector through sports programmes.
The Chairman of the event, Patrick Essiet who was represented by the State Coordinator on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Programme, Ime Usanga said that the gap between the young adult has hindered the control of the epidemic vision of 2030.
He however, hoped that Sports for life would unite the people and make them adhere to the medical advisers on HIV counselling.
He charged the youths and the young adults to completely abstained from casual sex and say no to premarital sex in order to be protected.
Four schools were involved in the competitions, West Itam Secondary school competed with St Brain’s Model School, while Community Comprehensive Secondary School four towns,Uyo played against Uyo High School .
West Itam Secondary School qualified to play finals with two goals against 1 while Community Comprehensive Secondary school emerged with 2 goals against zero.
At the finals, the host school, West Itam Secondary School won the trophy.
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Trophy, Medals, certificate of participations, and HIV materials were presented to the winner and all the schools that participated by the Commissioner of Economic Development who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Christopher Udoh.
High point of the event were the presentation of the trophy, decoration of the chairman, conduction of the HIV test, distribution of HIV materials.
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