Bricache Intelligence

The Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN) has called on government in all the three tiers to procure self-testing kits to help increase testing for the virus in the country. Besides, the group also urged the government to, as a matter of urgency, disseminate the HIV self- testing guidelines. These, the group argued in a statement, would help bridge the HIV testing gap and ensuring that the country achieve ninety (90%) percent testing target for 2030. The statement which was signed by the group Executive Secretary, Dr. Walter Ugwuocha also noted availability of the self-testing kits will further provide access to people who don’t feel comfortable going to health facilities for testing. He said: “Availability of HIV self-test kit in Nigeria is a welcome development as it will facilitate access of persons. It will also facilitate HIV testing as many times as any individual wants. “The National roll out of the HIV self-testing programme in Nigeria can help clo...

DR. BRIGHT ONIOVOKUKOR, STATE COORDINATOR, CIVIL SOCIETY FOR HIV/AIDS IN NIGERIA (CiSHAN) EDO STATE CHAPTER MADE A REMARK DURING THE 36th INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL THAT HELD ON 19TH MAY, 2019 IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE. He stated that the Annual International AIDS Candlelight memorial, beyond being a grass root mobilization campaign for HIV Awareness in the world, it is also an opportunity to address key issues that fuel the spread of the virus thereby making getting to zero a mirage. As we remember those that have died of AIDS, we need the support of everyone to encourage others to live positively. The 2019 theme is intensifying the fight for health and rights! *Edo State HIV prevalence is 1.9 (NAIIS 2018) which is worrisome because the Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) 2018 revealed that majority of cases that make up the 1.9 are new infections. This is an indication that a lot of work still needs to be done to stop new infections....