Pharmacist Harry showing the students of College of Education Zuba how to use Oraquick HIV test kit.
By Victoria Onehi
Adolescents and Young People (AYP) have been urged to adopt HIV preventive measures to reduce the high risk of HIV transmission among their age demography.
This was part of health discussions held at the OraQuick Campus storm, a programme held to educate and enlighten students about the HIV self-testing kit at the FCT College of Education Zuba, Abuja on Thursday.
Product Manager Mozuk Future Solution, Pharmacist Harry Omoakhia said the enlightenment campaign has become necessary because new infections of HIV have been recorded among young people recently.
“Data from the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) has shown that up to 34.1% of new HIV infections in Nigeria occur among adolescents and young adults.
“There is an increase in new HIV infections amongst these young people so we are creating awareness about HIV prevention and innovative ways to test amongst them. And one of the ways is self-testing in the privacy of their homes.”
” You don’t test directly with saliva.There are highly vascularized systems in the mouth especially in the upper and lower gum.The gingival exudates from this part contains different components including antibodies, which advanced technology like OraQuick use to detect if someone is HIV negative or positive.”Omoakhia explains.
He said the government and other stakeholders have a role to play because there are lots of people who will be limited by traditional ways of testing in the hospital hence, stakeholders should encourage the use of the self-testing kits. “As we move towards the last-mile to reach everyone, self-testing is one important way we can reach these young people and encourage them so the prevalence rate among them will reduce,” Omoakhia said.
Programme Officer, JSi Rifkatu Ademola said the OraQuick campus storm is a way of bringing young people together and to enlighten and create awareness amongst them to prevent the virus.
” We try to bridge the gap of lack of information and create awareness on ways to prevent HIV. Today, we have taught them how to use the OraQuick HIV self-testing kit to enable them know their status. By knowing their status, they can keep themselves from being infected. But ultimately, we tell them that abstinence is the best way to prevent the HIV virus.” She said.
A student of the Faculty of Sciences in the institution, Rashida Muazu, thanked the organisers for the enlightenment campaign.
She spoke about the things she learnt.”Today, I learned a lot. I learned how to use the test kit and that I can do my own HIV test myself at my home. She also emphasised the importance of total abstinence and screening blood before transfusions as effective ways to prevent HIV.
The initiative, called “OraQuick Campus Storm”, was organised in partnership with the FCT College of Education Zuba Student Union Government (SUG), Orasure Technologies, Mozuk Future Solution, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., and Heartland Alliance.
The OraQuick Campus Storm has been held in the University of Lagos, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, University of Abuja, and today FCT College of Education, Zuba Abuja.
