World AIDS Day: Young Medical Scientists To Hold Talkshow, Others In Abraka

By Our Reporters

Young medical scientists in Delta state, will on Wednesday hold a talkshow and also conduct free medical tests for residents in Abraka.

This was disclosed by Isioma Uwagbai, the association’s Programme Director in the state who holds same office in the national executive.

He spoke during an exclusive interview with Oasis Magazine in the office of the media house in Abraka.

According to him, the programme was put together to mark this year’s World AIDS day tomorrow, December 1, 2021.

He added: “We are going to do a talkshow, create awareness and do a volunteer testing. We’re going to bring counsellors that will counsel them before they do the testing. You know such tests are done voluntarily; you have to seek the consent of the person you are about to test before you test that person.”

Asked the tests that will be carried out on that day, he said that Hepatitis B testing would be done, saying that it is one of the major deadly diseases that kill people in the environment.

He continued: “So we’ll be doing testing for both HIV and Hepatitis B. Also, we will be bringing a team that will be doing referrals to those who might come out with a positive result: you do not just leave them at that stage. Most times we do referrals to the nearest health facility closer to them so they can access immediate and good care at low cost.”

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On the choice of Abraka for this year’s event, he said: “Yes, we chose Abraka because first, Medical Laboratory Science was just approved about a month ago into the university list of courses offered, which was a plus to the school. This is because it has been a programme we have been clamouring for. Delta state does not have adequate Medical Laboratory Scientists and many of the scientists we have are from other states. They got their training from other states and that is not too good, but, thank God that Delta State University, Abraka, has become one of the schools that have approved the course. So, we chose Abraka because of the students in the environment. We know quite well that the students are youthful. Some of them engage in so many activities. Some have sexual partners and some engage in sexual acts without protection, all in the name that there is nothing. “Nothing dey happen”. But, we who are hospital workers have seen many of them. Later, when they become sick, we run tests on them and find out many of them turn out to be positive and when you tell them, they say it is not possible. When you trace their history, you come to realize that most of them have been engaged in activities that predispose and expose them to this disease.”

Furthermore, he urged the DELSU community and residents in Abraka to present themselves for testing. adding that the procedure is not painful.

“The earlier you know your status, the better for you,” he opined.

He advised youths especially students to take responsibility and be careful in whatever they engage in. Citing barbing as an example, he urged both the males and females to be careful and to always instruct their barbers and hair stylists to sterilize their equipment before using it on them or better still get their own materials, adding that it is not only through sex people can contract the disease.

Meanwhile, Uwagbai thanked those that sponsored the event.

He said that those that sponsored the project include AMLSN, Delta State Chapter, Daughter of Zion Eatery, Abraka,
Caritas Nigeria, Pro- Health, Westend Hospital and Shalom Medical Lab.

Others he said are P-Wave Diagnostics, Biomed Diagnostics, Standard Laboratories, AMLSN HMB Chapter and others too numerous to mention.

The programme will take place at the community’s town hall close to Campus 1 and at a location in Site 111 simultaneously at 10a.m. Also,the team of scientists will be on ground at the Oruarivie-Abraka Prayer Day for the talkshow and medical tests.