United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has disclosed its plans to commence HIV preventive intervention programmes in Nigerian prisons by September 2109.
Dr Abiye Kalaiwo, Programme Manager in Nigeria made the disclosure to Newsmen on Thursday, 18th July 2019 in Abuja, saying the intervention is aimed at reducing the spread of the immunodeficiency virus among the key population in the country.

 

He added that the programme has already commenced in Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Cross River state prisons subsequently, targeting Bauchi, Adamawa, Niger and Bayelsa state prisons.

He noted that anal sex, drug injections and inadequate enlightenment are major reasons for the prevalence of the virus among inmates.

While speaking, Kalaiwo also informed that the agency would conduct thorough sensitisation for inmates on preventive measures including abstinence and protected sex such as the use of condoms.

The USAID official asserted that prison inmates need to be educated on the risks of unprotected as well as anal sex.