LSACA TRAINS RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON HIV RESPONSE

Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has trained over 250 religious leaders in Ikeja and Lagos Island divisions as part of government strategies towards eradicating HIV in the State.

Speaking at the training programme, the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr. Oluseyi Temowo stated that collaborating with religious leaders to eradicate the scourge of HIV remains a priority based on the special position that religious leaders hold in society.

According to him, religious faithful believe more in their spiritual leaders than any other person in their different communities, hence the need to involve this category of people in prevention strategies.

Temowo sought that correct use of condoms by everyone should be encouraged in order to reduce the spread of HIV, stressing that HIV is no longer a death sentence but a life sentence with proper and appropriate use of medication.

He urged religious leaders to maintain the confidentiality of HIV positive persons in their religious organisations except if the affected person or persons agree to the revelation of their status.

He also advised the religious leaders to encourage pregnant women to access free HIV testing services at the different health facilities across the State in order to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the disease, saying that early detection will reduce the spread and aid eradication of the scourge.