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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The 2024 World AIDS Day celebration, held at the Oguta council area of Imo State on Tuesday, 31 December, witnessed a large turnout as women, men, and youths volunteered for testing to know their HIV status, unlike in previous years, following strong advocacy by the resource persons.
The celebration began with a sensitisation rally to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, followed by a health talk, during which the resource person, Dr. Mercy Duruaku, addressed the audience on all they needed to know about HIV/AIDS and its preventive measures.
Speaking at the event organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at the Oguta Civic Centre, Dr. Kyrian Uchegbu, the Imo State Representative, said he was happy that the people were eager to know their HIV status by taking part in the free testing provided by the NDDC.
He said that the NDDC, as an interventionist agency, is assisting in the development of the nine oil-producing states, as well as improving the health of the communities by providing better health facilities.
“I’m happy today as our people have taken advantage of the free testing to know their HIV status. HIV is not a death sentence, and knowing that helps you to live a more positive life. We are going to have another medical mission in 2025, like the one held in 2024, where those with different medical problems were treated, including surgeries, all free of charge. NDDC will continue to provide health facilities in the oil-producing communities of Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, and Oru East because health is wealth.”
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Also, Dr. Kelechi Nwelu, Director of the Imo State office of the NDDC, said the same event was also being held in all nine states. “We are also running a deworming programme, and we will carry it out during the 2025 medical mission. Earlier, we had a medical mission in Oguta for two months, and we are going to do more. We are concerned about the health of our people, and today is World AIDS Day, so knowing your status is important. We have the antiretroviral drugs available, and they are free.”
The resource person, Dr. Mercy Duruaku, who spoke on how to prevent and manage HIV if contracted, said that the antiretroviral drugs will suppress the virus in the carrier from becoming AIDS.
“HIV does not kill, but what kills is the mindset of the infected person. But if you are positive for the virus, all that is required is to take the antiretroviral drugs religiously, which will suppress the virus and help you live well. You also have to adopt a positive lifestyle. HIV will not stop you from getting married. When you are taking your antiretroviral drugs, at a stage, you become uninfected because your immunity is high,” she said.
Speaking to participants at the event, they expressed their gratitude to the NDDC for sponsoring the programme and creating significant awareness about HIV/AIDS, adding that they would put into practice all they had learned.
The highlight of the 2024 World AIDS Day celebration was the testing and counselling session, which saw many participants tested.
