Kwara State AIDS Control agency warns against female genital mutilation

Kwara State AIDS Control Agency Warns Against Harmful Cultural Practices

In a bid to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, the Kwara State AIDS Control Agency (KWASACA) has warned against harmful cultural practices that contribute to the spread of the disease. The warning was issued during an outreach programme in Bieleshin community, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The agency’s Executive Secretary, Dr Alabi Seleem, emphasized the need to critically examine harmful cultural practices and their impact on health. He urged the community to move away from practices detrimental to their well-being, citing the close relationship between structural, cultural, and religious beliefs and how cultural norms shape people’s actions and behaviors.

According to Seleem, the agency has gathered data on the community and has developed a package of prevention messages to equip indigenous people with information on how to protect themselves from contracting HIV. The agency’s intervention strategy is twofold, involving identifying and linking individuals who are HIV positive to care, as well as using general population testing to randomly identify individuals in remote areas.

During the outreach programme, 69 people were tested, with some identified as HIV positive. The agency has commenced treatment for those affected. The Chairman of the House Committee on Health and Environment, Razaq Owolabi, praised the interventions as part of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s strategies for improving public health.

The Head of Community Systems at KWASACA, Mr Oyedeji Olufemi, explained that the campaign aims to mobilize and educate the community on the need to stop harmful cultural practices that increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. He stressed the importance of proactive measures and cooperation to end HIV/AIDS by 2030.

The Mogaji of Bieleshin community, Alhaji Saidu Aru, commended KWASACA for its health intervention efforts and urged community members to get tested and adhere to their medication regimen if found positive.

The agency’s efforts are seen as a crucial step towards achieving the goal of an HIV/AIDS-free Kwara by 2030.