By Kemi Olatunde

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The need to guide against the spread of HIV/AIDS among students have been stressed just as Ondo State joined the world to celebrate the 2022 edition of World AIDS Day.

To this end, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA) organised a sensitization workshop for the students of School of Health Technology, Akure with the theme; “equalize to end AIDS, equal access to treatment and prevention services.”

Addressing the students, Permanent Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu who was represented by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Coordinator of the Agency, Mrs Rosemary Adegbulu said that the  sensitization aimed at  providing students with the right information that would help them take right decision.

Akanbiemu encouraged them to guide their future by living a healthy life, devoid of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS.

He, noted that the disease is no longer a death sentence as  drugs are now available to suppress the virus especially if detected on time through testing and therefore urging HIV positive patients to adhere strictly to medications.

 In a goodwill message, state focal person, United Nation Population Fund, ( UNFPA) Mrs Uzor Ayodeji represented by Mrs Olayide Aro stated that one of the goals of the  organization is to ensure that youths reach their full potentials as  they are mostly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

Also speaking, representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Miss Joy Asubiojo reiterated the organisation’s plans to continually partner with the state government   to end HIV/AIDs, noting that the theme  was deliberately chosen in order to attain zero tolerance for the spread of the virus.

Similarly, the representative of APINS Public Health Institute, Mrs Adidat Suraju, said they have their facilities across the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state, where they offer testing and treatment for people living with the virus.

Resource person, Mrs Opeyemi Agunbiade while speaking explained that sexually transmitted diseases are on the high side, especially among the young ones who according to her are ready to explore their sexual desires, stressing that sexually transmitted ingestions (STIs) in which HIV/AIDS falls within are silent killers.

While informing them that the only way to detect the virus is to get tested, Mrs Agunbiade noted that the students must abstain from sex to prevent contracting and transmitting the virus adding that if they can’t abstain, they should consistently and correctly use protections, such as male and female condoms.

According to her the disease cannot be transmitted through physical contacts and advised the students against stigmatization of  people living with the virus.

The sensitization programmes which preceded early morning walk to some major streets in Akure metropolis had as its highlights , testing of about 200 hundred students and distribution of both male and female  condoms.