Stop HIV in rural areas, Govt urged

YULETIDE : From left: Chairman and Member House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Henry Archibong and David Ombugadu respectively; Director General, National Agency for the Control AIDS, NACA, Prof John Idoko and Chief Communication Officer, NACA, Mrs Toyin Aderibigbe during the 2015 media parley of the Agency in Abuja recently

Government at all levels has been urged to stop the spread of teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS in the rural areas of the country. Combating HIV/AIDS and Teenage Pregnancy Initiative, CAIDS&TPI, said government should devise holistic means to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy which are prevalent in remote areas and border towns.

Project Director, CAIDS&TPI, Omolola Omolokun said an AIDS free generation is achievable and that unwanted pregnancy can be eradicated.The group which has been involved in anti-HIV/AIDS campaigns stated this in Abeokuta at the launch of two books  in Abeokuta.

Omolokun who is the co-author of “Adolescence and Teenage Pregnancy – Challenges, Do’s and Don’ts” said over 10,000 people have benefited from the initiative from Ogun, Oyo, Imo and Plateau states.

“In 2016, we plan to reach out to the 20 local government areas of Ogun State through distribution of free copies of the books to students and communities.”

Founder of the group, Ayodele Omolokun said government should use the books as part of the tools to stop the deadly disease.

Omolokun who co-authored one of the books said they address the causes and factors encouraging the spread of teenage pregnancy, dangers, risk and consequences associated with teenage pregnancy and its prevention.

“We need an holistic approach in creating awareness in the rural areas especially and this book would assist a lot. We should stop the spread of HIV/AIDs, we should stop stigmatisation.

“This book has the information to impact on the over seven billion estimated population of the world.

“The National Agency for the Control of AIDS, should look at it, adopt it and even put as part of their work plan as an awareness tool that would be given to students, NGOs,”he urged.