C’River faces high risk of HIV, hepatitis, AHF warns

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

** The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has raised concern over the prevalence of Hepatitis and HIV in Cross River State, as it partnered with the Healthy Billionaires (HB) Fitness Club to offer free screening at the 7th edition of the Calabar Walkathon.**

HIV Prevention Coordinator for AHF, Aruk Ene, said the outreach was focused on encouraging residents to know their health status.

“What AHF does is patient-centred care. We provide HIV testing services, we test and treat syphilis and hepatitis, we do laboratory monitoring and wellness services, and we link people to treatment,” Ene said.

She warned that Hepatitis is a silent killer that can be more fatal than HIV if not detected early.

“Hepatitis kills faster than HIV. Both Hepatitis and Syphilis are sexually transmitted like HIV. So it’s better to know your status. If you are negative for hepatitis, you go for vaccination. If you are positive for HIV or hepatitis, with your consent, we link you for treatment and lab monitoring,” she explained.

According to her, Cross River’s location makes it vulnerable, as it shares boundaries with Benue and Akwa Ibom States where prevalence is high, as well as with Cameroon.

“Cross River is like in the centre, we are really exposed. We are trying to reduce the prevalence through awareness and encouraging people to protect themselves,” she said.

Ene said AHF has so far tested about 50 participants at the Walkathon and is offering additional prevention education.

As part of prevention, the foundation is also distributing free condoms and providing condom education. Ene said the team is targeting 10,000 pieces at the Walkathon.

“Once you know your status, you need protection. We have condom dispensers, like an ATM, filled with condoms at the Youth Hub in University of Calabar (UNICAL) and at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar. People can just walk in and get what they want,” she added.

She noted that AHF has distributed close to 200,000 condoms across the state this year alone through its dispensers and community outreaches.

Ene commended the HB Fitness Club for the partnership, describing it as timely and impactful in reaching more people with prevention messages.

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