2020 ICD: Foundation set to give away free 250, 000 condoms, preaches safer lifestyle

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will between February 12 and 14, 2020 under the healthy living advocacy campaign slogan “Safer is Fun” distribute no fewer than 250, 000 condoms to Nigerians.

The event according to an official press release was as part of effort geared towards preventing HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections and promote healthy lifestyles.

“AHF has a long tradition of popular activities on ICD—an informal international celebration typically observed in conjunction with Valentine’s Day. This year is no different – AHF-Nigeria teams across the states are planning entertaining and educational “Safer is Fun” activities with a poignant advocacy message: People cannot take charge of their health if widespread stockouts, shortages and unaffordable prices for condoms continue! Help us spread the word by joining us for fun, advocacy and plenty of free AHF-branded LOVE and ICON Gold condoms.

‘‘This year, In an effort to support the Nigerian national condom policy – the Total Marketing Approach, to bridge Nigeria’s annual Condom Gap of about 600million, AHF-Nigeria is collaborating with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and NOI Polls in a nationwide survey on the condom culture of Nigerians. Survey findings shall be disseminated during a Press Conference slated for Wednesday, February 13th 2020 by 9:30 AM prompt at the NACA office in Abuja. In similar regard, a road-walk shall take off from Wuse Market by 9:30 AM and terminate at the Zone 3 shopping complex, for the HIV testing component of the exercise. Testing activities shall also take place across all AHF-Nigeria program states of: Benue, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Nasarawa, Anambra and Abuja’’, said Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF-Nigeria Country Program Director.

“Getting free condoms to people who need them most has always been a priority for AHF, but we’re stepping up our advocacy even more around the world in 2020 to help break down barriers to access, because condoms remain the most cost-effective option we have for preventing HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancies,” said AHF Chief of Global Policy and Advocacy Terri Ford.

“The events held by our country teams bring community members together to learn how to best protect themselves and their partners and are also a blast for all attendees. We encourage everyone across the 43 countries where AHF operates to get out and find a ‘Safer is Fun’ ICD event near you – we need your support to show the world the demand for condoms is strong and condom access must improve!”

“International Condom Day is also a great way to remind people everywhere that HIV and STIs are still major global health threats—but threats that can be avoided by regularly and correctly using condoms,” added AHF President Michael Weinstein.

“There are 1.7 million new HIV infections annually and more than 1 million new cases of curable STIs every day, according to UNAIDS and the World Health Organization, respectively. That is unacceptable when those conditions are one hundred percent preventable—governments and global health organizations must do more to ensure people have easy access to free or affordable condoms, the statement also said.”

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