3 Million Condoms arranged for Calabar Carnival

Cross River State Agency for the Control
of HIV and AIDS has acquired more
than three million condoms for
distribution at the Christmas Carnival
village in Calabar.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr.
Irene Aniyom, told the News Agency of
Nigeria at the village in Calabar on
Sunday that the measure was to create
more awareness on HIV and check the
prevalence level.
She explained that the youths were
targeted in the distribution of condom
because they were the active
participants at the annual carnival.
She added that SACA and her partners
would also offer free counselling and
test on the scourge during the 32-day
event.
Aniyom advised youths against using
the festival as avenue for sexual
activities, warning that "even if they
should indulge in such practice, they
should ensure that they use condom".
She said Calabar South Local
Government Area and Calabar
Municipality Local Government had the
highest HIV and AIDS prevalence.
She said 244,106 persons in the state
were currently living with the HIV and
AIDS.
She advised tourists and fun seekers
patronising the festival village to avail
themselves of the free counseling and
test offered by the agency during the
period.
"There is the need for people to take
advantage of the testing and
counselling to know their HIV status.
This will enable them to control their
excesses," she said.
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