The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Gambo Aliyu has urged Nigerians to know their HIV status and avoid risky behaviours on Valentine’s Day.
Aliyu was quoted as saying this in a statement on Monday by the Head of Public Relations and Protocol of the agency, Toyin Aderibigbe.
The NADA DG said it was important to reduce the trend of new HIV infection in Nigerian youths through abstinence, and the use of condoms.
According to reports, Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14 to share love and gifts.
“The DG, NACA wants Nigerians, especially young people, to take advantage of the spirit of love and togetherness that Valentine’s Day signifies, to know their HIV status. It is important that all Nigerians know their HIV status, as it marks the entry point to the prevention, treatment, and care of HIV/AIDS.
“This occasion, though significant in the lives of people globally, brings a lot of cause to worry about, as the expression of love, especially among adolescents, youths, and other diverse populations most often fall out of context,” the statement read in part.
