With an estimated two million people in Nigeria living with HIV according to the national agency for the control of aids NACA, achieving the national and global elimination target by 2030 maybe not be achievable without sustained community intervention and increased budgetary allocation.
It was the submission of some public Health Advocates at an HIV intervention Programme in Badagry area of Lagos State where limited access to services has left many residents underserved in hiv education and testing.
With high influx of travellers from these African countries, the community is a high risk zone for the spread of the deadly HIV virus, which informed the intervention and free screening by the Nigerian Business coalition Against aids and other stakeholders.
Nigeria has a significant HIV burden, with recent figures estimated put at over 160 thousand cases and escalating new infection rates in states like Rivers and Benue.
Speakers urged youth to avoid risky behaviour and engage in regular testing to control the spread of the infection.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
