..charges citizens to get tested and know their Status
As the Whole World is Celebrating February 14 as Valentine Day, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has said that, sharing love should not lead to recklessness as he called on all and sundry to get tested and know their HIV Status.
Arakunrin Akeredolu said “a young person that is not tested may not have the opportunity to enjoy future Valentine’s Day if he or she is diagnosed late or presents with terminal complications related to HIV infections or AIDS ” .
The Governor was speaking at the Public Launch of HIV Self Testing Services in Ondo State School of Health Technology, Akure on Monday.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa declared that, “everybody is a suspect except one is tested, let’s share love not HIV” .
Governor Akeredolu noted that the fight against HIV / AIDS in Nigeria is still on.
“It has therefore became imperative for us to intensify and educate particularly young people of Ondo State on the importance of getting tested and knowing their HIV Status” .
“HIV self-testing means that our people can make use of oral fluid or blood finger pricks to discover their status in a private and convenient setting..of which results are ready within 20 minutes or less” .
“HIV self-testing is a way to reach more people with undiagnosed HIV and it represents a step forward to empower individuals, diagnose people earlier before they become sick, bring Service closer to where people live and engender demand for HIV testing” explained the Governor.
Earlier in her welcome address, Secretary to Ondo State Government who is also Chairman, Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS ( ODSACA ), Princess Oladunni Odu appreciated Ondo State Governor and other supportive partners in the making of an innovative and a new breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ondo State.
In his own goodwill message, Special Adviser to Governor on Health, Professor Francis Dayo Faduyile congratulated Ondo State Government on this new innovation saying , “this is another level of control of HIV in Ondo State”.
Some of the dignitaries at the event with Deputy Governor are, Ondo State Head of Service, Pastor John Adeyemo, Deputy Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa, Project Manager, ODSACA, Dr Dayo Adegbulu, Head Ondo State Office of APIN, Public Health Initiative, Dr Abimbola Ariyo, Provost, Ondo State School of Health Technology, Dr Felix Olawoye, Ondo State CAN Chairman, Rev Father Ansalem Ologunwa and others.
Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson,
Press Secretary To the Governor
( Office of the Deputy Governor ).
Photo Credit : Abayomi Adefalu.
JATS Online News 