LSACA PROVIDES FREE HIV TESTING SERVICES FOR MARKET MEN, WOMEN

Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has provided free HIV Testing Services (HTS) to more than 5000 market men and women in the ongoing HIV market intervention programme.

 

Speaking about the programme, the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr. Oluseyi Temowo said the exercise was a follow-up on the activities to mark the Year 2017 World AIDS Day.

 

According to him, the intervention would afford the group the opportunity to know their HIV status, improve their knowledge, attitude and perception of HIV /AIDS, get counselled on sexual behaviour that exposes them to HIV transmission and also help the Agency to elicit comprehensive data for a future programme for the group in the State.

 

Dr. Temowo maintained that “aligning with the global trend and the United Nations 90-90-90 initiative, which is aimed at eradicating the scourge by 2020 through scaling up the intervention programme, can go along way in the achievement of the global initiative among the target group for Lagos State”.

 

He maintained that market women and men are very effective in information dissemination through interpersonal communication and as a result, more people at the grassroots would get to know about HIV/AIDS.

 

The markets already covered in the intervention programme include Mile 12, Ketu; Agbado-Oke –Odo, Alimosho; Aiyetoro market, Epe and Sabo market, Ikorodu among others.

 

Individuals who tested HIV positive during the exercise were given referrals for further appropriate medical attention and counsel.