NIGERIA – Access Corporation in partnership with the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA) has conducted three weeks of free HIV services, including testing and counseling for 10,000 Nigerians as part of their contributions towards supporting healthcare.
The exercise which kick-started at the 2023 edition of the Access Bank Lagos city marathon also aimed to increase the knowledge of HIV status among the beneficiaries and strengthen linkage and referral systems for people living with HIV.
This comes days after the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, stated that HIV is one of the most successful programs in Nigeria.
Dr Oluwafunke, who heads of HIV, Tuberculosis and Viral Hepatitis Unit at WHO in Nigeria, said over 90 percent of the people living with HIV have been discovered and over 98 percent are on treatment.
A statement issued by the organisers explained that the free HIV testing and counseling exercise took place in the following communities; Ikeja, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Amukoko-Ijora, Orile, among others and that it also hoped to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria by increasing awareness of the disease and its effects on individuals, families, and communities.
“HIV testing is crucial in the fight against AIDS, early detection and treatment significantly reduce the impact of the virus,” read part of the statement.
“The counseling conducted at the testing centres also offered psychosocial support to those living with HIV and their families, helping to alleviate stigma and discrimination.
“Access Corporation remains committed to driving sustainable development in Nigeria while leveraging the resources and expertise of the NiBUCAA to implement high-impact interventions to create a lasting positive impact on society and bridge the gap to ending the epidemics of AIDS and other infectious diseases by 2030.”
A similar excersice was conducted by the two companies in much last year where they provided support to 300 people living with HIV in Lagos State.
The 300 beneficiaries in attendance were from the Association of Network of People Living with HIV in Nigeria (NEPHWAN), Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ASWHAN), and the Association of Positive Youth Living with HIV in Nigeria (APYIN).
The Nigeria Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA) leads over 30 businesses in Nigeria with a commitment to fight the HIV and AIDS pandemic at all levels of intervention within the health system and the private sector workforce.
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