By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
No fewer than 1.7 million HIV/AIDS victims world wide are accessing healthcare under the banner of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AHF, in 45 countries.
Cross River State Clinical Cordinator of the AHF, Dr. Ifeanyi Udenkwo, released the figures yesterday during the launch of Sport for Life Project, SLP, which took place at the University of Calabar football stadium, ahead of the kick-off of the sporting activities organised by the organisation.
Dr.Udenkwo averred that by so doing, a lot of lives have been and are being protected from wasting.
He maintained that the reason behind the organisation’s decision to extend it’s hand of fellowship to the University of Calabar community is to ensure that lives don’t go wasted just because they are ignorant.
Giving an insight into what propelled the AHF to support the SLP initiative organised by management of Unical, the Clinical Cordinator said, “AHF has a roburst grant organisation. It gives grant to partners to go and do counselling and testing in difficult to reach areas so as to reduce the number of persons getting infected.
“Our grant tradition goes way back. We are part of advocacy and so we are also in that. Our commitment is for a an HIV-free generation.
“It’s one of the reasons why we are calling on all to support the youths to succeed. Lets get involved in all the activities. Lets shun drugs, bad behavior and engage in preventive behavior.
“Abstinence and being faithful to a sex or marriage partner is the panacea to avoid being infected with HIV/AIDS. If you are infected, be on drugs. It’s no longer a death sentence.”
Also speaking, the deputy director, Office of Strategic Fund Management, University of Calabar, Unical, Mrs. Grace Ibor, shortly after the official launch of the ‘Sport for Life Project,’ which she claimed will attract different sporting activities from next week, to be organised by Unical management, charged students of the institution to shun risky behavior like drug abuse, cultism, multiple sex partners, and practise abstinence, among several others, so as to stay alive.
