Know your HIV status, Ondo Gov urges youths

The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged youths in the state to get tested and know their HIV status.

Akeredolu stated this on Monday at the launching of HIV Self-Testing Services in Akure.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the governor said he was happy for the passion and commitment of all stakeholders towards the state’s vision for HIV/AIDS free Ondo State.

Akeredolu said the event was another milestone in bridging the difficult gaps of getting everyone to know their HIV status.

“The World Health Organisation(WHO) reports in 2021 reveals that globally, approximately, five million young people ages between 15 and 25 years live with HIV.

“WHO, therefore, recommended HIV self-testing, as an alternative to the traditional HIV testing services, given its potential to expand HIV testing access to the difficult to reach part of our population.

“These difficulty to reach population includes young people who are at risk for or with undiagnosed HIV infection.

“It has been reported that young people are at the centre of global HIV/AIDS epidemic in regard to both new infections and opportunities forward halting the transmission of HIV, “he said.

Mrs Oladunni Odu, Chairman, Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ODSACA), said the state government and APIN public health initiatives collaborated to ensure the introduction of the HIV self-testing kits.

Odu, who is the Secretary to the State Government, urged the public, especially the youths to utilise the opportunity to know their status without overbearing influence of health workers.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the test kits were officially launched by the governor and other government functionaries present. (NAN