BENIN CITY- The Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS and HIV (EDOSACA) in collaboration with the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) aka Ryrates Confraternity recently embarked on a routine HIV Testing Service (HTS) in some communities in the state.

The Program Manager, EDOSACA, Hajia Mariat Binkola, said “the exercise was to sensitize the people, especially those in the rural areas on the uptake of HIV test, so as to reduce the risk associated with the disease.

She said that even though a lot of awareness has been created and a good number of the population seems to be cautious, there was still need for routine tests as part of the agency’s continuous schedule, while discovered cases are referred for necessary follow up to treatment facilities.

The routine HTS outreach was carried out in Aruogba Community in Oredo Local Government Area and Ugbogui Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area.

The outreach in Aruogba Community featured free medical test and dispensing of drugs.

In Ugbogui Community, the level of awareness was quite high as people turned out voluntarily in large number for the free HIV/AIDS testing services.

A total of 305 persons were tested during the exercise

Those who tested positive were referred to comprehensive centres for confirmatory test and initiation into the Antiretroviral Therapy.

The EDOSACA team also included Network of persons Living with HIV/AIDS(NEPWAN), and the Association of Women Living With HIV/AIDS, Edo State Chapter.