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MAKURDI – The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has said that it was necessary that as youths show love to one another on the occasion of the 2025 Valentine’s day celebration, the show of love should be accompanied with responsible and safe sexual behaviors.
The organisation which explained that during the Valentine’s day celebration, it would be difficult to stop the youth from engaging in sex, however, observed that it was pertinent for AHF to advise them against risky behaviors, through unprotected sex.
AHF disclosed this on Thursday as part of its awareness campaign on the occasion of the International Condoms Day (ICD), which coincides with activities to mark Valentine’s day celebration across six states where it is operational, among them Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Nasarawa states and Abuja-FCT.
Highlights of the occasion include free distribution of condoms and testing campaigns, while the youths from Kogi, Abuja, Benue, Cross River and Nasarawa also participated in a video challenge to promote safe sex.
The programmes were intended to highlight the importance of condom use and raise awareness about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). The event also included a health talk on STIs as well as demonstration on how to properly use condoms.
The theme for 2025 is: “Kuku Use Am, No Shake Body,”
Dr Onyeyili Ikemefuna, Kogi State Coordinator, AHF Nigeria, explained that the campaign was also aimed at promoting safer sex practices, reduce stigma, and equip young people with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
He said, “The day aims to educate people about the risks of STIs, unintended pregnancies, and the importance of using condoms to prevent these risks. It is observed just before Valentine’s Day to remind people that love should be accompanied by responsible and safe sexual behaviour.
“Tomorrow (Friday) is Valentine’s day, and people will engage in sex whether we like it or not. We can’t stop them, but we advise condom use because it is better to be safe than to seek treatment,” he added.
While Ikemefuna encouraged the youth to embrace condom use, she stressed that it was essential for protection against STIs and preventing unintended pregnancies, he observed that AHF Nigeria had produced enough condoms, which were being distributed for free as part of the campaign.
Also speaking at the occasion, Dr Folashade Ayoade, Secretary to the Kogi State Government (SSG), commended AHF Nigeria and other stakeholders for the initiative.
She encouraged people to use condoms, stressing that it remained an effective option for triple protection: preventing HIV, STIs, and unplanned pregnancies.
The SSG had earlier received those that marched through the city of Lokoja, to commemorate the International condom day today.
The Advocacy and Marketing Manager at AHF Nigeria, Mr Steve Aborishade, underscored the need to promote condom use, especially among young people, to combat the rising rates of STIs.
He said, “We always tell them to abstain, but we realise many cannot, and that’s why we are seeing an increase in STIs, including HIV/AIDS.
The roadwalk kicked off at the Ministry of Health, passing through Post Office and FEN Junction, and concluded at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) Andankolo campus.
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