By Onwa Ekor
Director General, Cross River Agency for the Control of AIDS (CR-SACA), Dr Charles Iwara, has disclosed that a total of 5,184 male condoms and 500 female condoms, were distributed free of charge to attendees during the sensitization and awareness campaign held at the just concluded Leboku New Yam festival in Ugep, Yarkurr local government area.
Speaking at the Ugep Peace Stadium venue of the event, Iwara assured individuals living with HIV/AIDS that the state government has put in place needed plans to address their daily healthcare needs.
His words: “A total of 5,184 male condoms and 500 female condoms were distributed free of charge to attendees during the sensitization and awareness campaign at the event.”
According to Iwara, “The governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has gone beyond enrolling the affected individuals in the State Health Insurance Scheme, to concluding arrangements for partnership with an indigenous pharmaceutical firm to produce ARV drugs locally.
“After funding cuts from our major donor partners, especially USAID, many living with HIV feared for their lives, however, I want to assure them that Otu, is committed to ensuring that they receive adequate care and unhindered access to their treatment,” he assured.
On the impressive response from attendees at the HIV testing and counseling sessions, Iwara pointed out that it demonstrates the people’s readiness to embrace social behavioural change through safe sex and preventive measures.
“We will not relent in our awareness campaigns at every little opportunity, as they enable us to disseminate crucial information about HIV while building our data for new detections and treatment,” he added.
SACA Programme Prevention Officer, Ms. Rose Ekum, remarked that, as an agency focused on preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, it is poised to raising awareness on the proper use of both male and female condoms to reduce the prevalence of HIV, STIs and unintended pregnancies.
“I must say I am overwhelmed by the response from festival attendees.
“We have exhausted our testing kits and distributed all 5,184 male condoms and 500 female condoms we brought to this event.
“We are pleased, as this will significantly help reduce the rates of transmission of HIV and STIs in Ugep and its environs,” Ekum explained.
The medical team, comprising SACA and LACA personnel, reported a high number of people screened for HIV, hepatitis and X-rays, and they look forward to more opportunities to sustain the awareness in the state.
Community engagement was a crucial aspect of the CR-SACA campaign, with many attendees expressing gratitude for the medical screening services.
Some shared their personal experiences and underscored the importance of regular health checks, considering the ongoing stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
This openness among festival-goers fostered a supportive atmosphere, encouraging others to seek testing and counseling to help check the spread of the disease, which currently has a prevalence rate of 1.8 percent in Cross River.
The festival’s popularity not only showcased the cultural richness of the Cross River region but highlighted the critical role health initiatives play in community gatherings.
Events like the Leboku festival offer unique opportunities to integrate health messages into cultural celebrations, making vital information more accessible to the public.
