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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