Valentine’s Day: NACA urges Nigerians to shun risky behaviour

• Foundation advocates safe condom use
Ahead of the 2024 Valentine’s Day, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has urged Nigerians to prioritise safety and protect their health to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Director General of the agency, Dr Temitope Ilori, who made the appeal in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, said that HIV remains a serious public health concern, even though it is preventable.

She cautioned against engaging in risky behaviours such as unprotected sex, multiple partners, or substance use that impairs judgment, which can increase the risk of HIV transmission.

Ilori urged Nigerians to make informed decisions by taking the right protection steps, stressing that “knowing your status is key to protecting yourself and others.”

MEANWHILE, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria said it is inviting everyone to join the movement this International Condom Day (ICD) to celebrate condoms and discover fun, creative ways to promote condom use – a simple yet powerful way to stay safer.

This year, according to the foundation, will commemorate ICD at Lokoja, the capital city of Kogi State on February 13 with exciting activities, free condom distribution, and engaging education on condom use.

It noted that despite more than 1 million Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) being acquired daily worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation ((WHO), condom use is declining in many parts of the world. The foundation stated that ending HIV/AIDS must include prioritising the prevention of new HIV cases, a goal that cannot be achieved without promoting condoms as an essential tool.