BY OGIDI CHIDINMA FAVOUR
The Office of the Clerk of the Student Union Parliament at the University of Benin is organizing a two-day event centred on HIV/AIDS awareness. The program will include a Rally and Outreach on May 3, 2025, at the Hall 2 Car Park, followed by a symposium on May 5, 2025, in the University of Benin’s Main Auditorium. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and the importance of knowing one’s HIV status.
The rally at Hall 2 Car Park will feature health talks, blood pressure testing, Body Mass Index (BMI) assessments, malaria parasite testing, consultations with doctors, counselling services, and the distribution of free HIV Ora-Quick test kits. The symposium will consist of discussions addressing various aspects of HIV/AIDS.
Despite being a longstanding issue, HIV/AIDS remains a topic that is often overlooked in serious discussions, particularly amongst Nigerian youth, and its prevalence continues to rise. A recent reel posted by Unibensugofficial on Instagram features individuals sharing their experiences as people living with HIV.
One individual recounts finding out he was HIV positive while trying to donate blood to a sick friend. Another shares how she got infected by her trusted “fellowship pastor.” The third victim describes contracting HIV after having sexual intercourse with someone he deemed “clean.” The fourth victim acknowledges that his decision not to use protection was a significant factor in his infection. The fifth person reveals that wanting to keep her “GLE Boyfriend” led her to contract the virus from him. The sixth victim, who claims to be a virgin, discloses that she was born with HIV. Finally, another individual tested positive for HIV after her first sexual experience with a guy she met off campus.
This video aims to enlighten young people about the various ways the disease can be contracted and the serious risks associated with it, thereby, setting the tune for the awareness program and highlighting its importance.
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