Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Stakeholders in Anambra State have renewed calls for consistent condom use, warning that new HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases remain a public health concern despite expanded access to treatment.
The call was made on Friday during a road walk in Awka organised to mark International Condom Day 2026, an annual campaign observed on February 13 ahead of Valentine’s Day.
The event was organised by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria in collaboration with the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency and other partners.
AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborishade, said condom promotion remains one of the most effective and affordable tools for preventing HIV and other STIs.
“HIV is preventable, and unprotected sex remains the biggest route of transmission,” he said, noting that AHF provides care to over 2.7 million people globally.
AHF Anambra State Coordinator Vivian Sunday noted that Anambra has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the South-east, citing the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey, which placed the state’s prevalence at 2.4 per cent.
She stressed that condom advocacy does not promote promiscuity but encourages responsible health choices.
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Koko Maxwella 
