Stakeholders Advocate Safe Sexual Activities Ahead of Valentine’s Day
Health stakeholders in Anambra State have renewed calls for consistent condom use, warning that new HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases remain a concern despite expanded treatment coverage.
The warning was issued on Friday during a road walk in Awka, organised to mark the 2026 International Condom Day, which is observed annually on February 13 to promote safer sexual practices ahead of Valentine’s Day.
The campaign was coordinated by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria in partnership with the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency and other local stakeholders.
Steve Aborishade, Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager at AHF Nigeria, highlighted that the initiative aligns with the foundation’s global mission to prevent new HIV infections.
Operating in 47 countries, AHF provides care to over 2.7 million people worldwide, including in Anambra State. The campaign served as both a public awareness drive and a call for responsible sexual behaviour.
Participants were educated on the effectiveness of condoms as a preventive tool, noting that correct and consistent use protects against HIV, other STIs, and unintended pregnancies.
Aborishade stressed that prevention remains the most reliable and cost-effective approach to reducing new infections.
Vivian Sunday, AHF State Coordinator in Anambra, highlighted the importance of partnerships in tackling HIV, citing collaborations with ANSACA, the Anambra State AIDS and STI Prevention Unit (SASCAP), NEPWHAN, AHNI, PACA and other community-based organisations. She noted that Anambra has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the South-east, with a 2.4% rate recorded in the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS).
John Ementa, project manager at ANSACA, emphasised that the day serves to reinforce condom use as a proven method of prevention, highlighting that prevention remains more cost-effective than treatment.
Educational materials and free condoms were distributed to participants, while the campaign included advocacy for responsible sexual behaviour and personal accountability.
The initiative also featured a prevention symposium at the University of Abuja, targeting students with education on HIV and STI prevention, complemented by free screening services through the AHF Abuja Wellness Centre. Stakeholders reiterated that the campaign promotes protection and responsible sexual health without encouraging promiscuity.
