ANAYD collaborates with Sports Ministry, Hopkins University, others on HIV self-testing awareness

The Network of Adolescents and Young Persons Development (ANAYD) has launched a campaign, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, John Hopkins University, U.S. and other health and youth development agencies, to raise HIV self-testing awareness in Lagos and other parts of the country.

According to the ANAYD Executive Director, Aaron Sunday, the advertisement for the HIV self-testing kits will help reduce the risk faced by youths, who are most prone to AIDS infection, due to their vulnerable lifestyle. It will also help to monitor their HIV virus status, as well as get well-tailored guidelines to prevent them from falling victims or becoming AIDS patients.

Sunday described the HIV self-testing awareness programme, which was carried out in five local government areas of Lagos, as successful, adding that the volunteers carried out their exercise in sporting arenas, commercial areas and potential environment where people are at high risk of contacting the virus.

Samuel said ANAYD is targeting mostly youths in Nigeria for the AIDS project to ensure the nation gets enough healthy youths, who can build the human capital development of the nation, adding that the organisation set sight to end the scourge by the year 2030 through creating awareness and testing youths who will grow up to form the next generation of the society.

“The HIV Self-Testing awareness carried out by ANAYD is funded with our partners, Ministry of Sports, John Hopkins University Affiliate, Ministry of Health, Lagos AIDS control agency and other bodies.

“The main aim of the self-testing awareness campaign is to make mostly youths understand that they can use a kit, which is cheap and available in every pharmacy, to check their HIV status.”

“The