CISHAN advises sex workers against unprotected sex

By Fatima Muraina
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Sex workers have been advised on the need to avoid unprotected sex to guard against contacting HIV/AIDS so that they can live healthy and worthy lives.

The Ondo State Co-ordinator of the Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN), Chief Pius Akomolafe gave the advice at a community dialogue held with some sex workers in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Akomolafe who was represented by the CISHAN State Secretary, Mr Adeosun Olusola, said the dialogue was to sensitize participants on how to prevent both customers and the sex workers from contacting the infectious virus.

Akomolafe who also educated the participants on various ways that the syndrome could be contacted, emphasized on ability to reject any request for unprotected  sex.

He urged them not to allow money to dictate the way they live their lives, but to avail themselves of necessary information.

CISHAN Monitoring Evaluation Officer, Rev. Abakah Dennis took participants through the history of HIV/AIDS which he said spread to the state in 1989.

He advised participants to reject whatever payment made for unprotected sex, saying that it is when they are healthy that they can continue in the business.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer from the Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA), Mr Bolu Fanimo said people should not stigmatise an infected person, but embrace them.

While noting that Malaria kills faster than HIV, Fanimo said HIV is not deadly and could be managed successfully.

Present at the occasion was the Programme and Administrative Officer for Community Heritage Watch for Development, Mr Sam Oyenigbehin and some Hotel Managers within Akure metropolis.