A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), AIDs Health Care Foundation (AHF), will distribute 250,000 condoms in six states of the federation along with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in commemoration of the 2020 International Condom Day (ICD).

Steve Aborisade, marketing manager of AHF Nigeria, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

He stated that the 2020 ICD, with “Safer is Fun” as its theme, will be celebrated on Feb. 13, to commemorate Saint Valentine’s Day which is celebrated on February 14 annually.

He said that AHF would mark the day with a road walk, free distribution of condoms and HIV testing and counselling exercise across six AHF-Nigeria programme states of Benue, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Nasarawa, Anambra and Abuja.

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Other activities include entertainment and educational “Safer is Fun” activities alongside advocacy messages.

The marketing manager noted that Dr Echey Ijezie, the Country Programme Director of the foundation in Nigeria had reiterated commitment toward ensuring increased access to condom as the world celebrates ICD.

He said the use of condom would assist in preventing unwanted pregnancy, HIV and Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs), as well as promote healthy lifestyles.

Quoting Ijezie, he said “on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, we will show Nigerians how Safer is Fun and why we urgently
need to take advocacy for condom access to a higher level.

“This is critical as people cannot take charge of their health if widespread stock outs, shortages and unaffordable prices for condoms continue.

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“There are 1.7 million new HIV infections annually and more than one million new cases of curable STIs every day, according to UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation (WHO), respectively.

“That is unacceptable when these conditions are 100 per cent preventable, thus, governments and global health organisations must do more to ensure that people have easy access to free or affordable condoms.”

NAN