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3^rd Annual World AIDS Day Campaign

 

Health Action Concerning the Environment and You (HACEY) commemorated the international World AIDS Day with a walk. The walk was the 3^rd of the organization�s annual event to commemorate the International World AIDS day. The campaign was held on the 1^st of December, 2009. The theme for this year was Walking Out The Virus and it was aimed at sensitizing and reminding people, especially youths in the University of Ilorin and the Ilorin metropolis about the HIV/AIDS virus, and to teach and encourage young people to take the lead in the fight against HIV/AIDS, since it was young people who were the most affected by the virus.

HACEY members in the University of Ilorin were all in attendance and participated actively in the walk. The walk also involved 109 volunteers from different faculties in the University of Ilorin.

 

 

The walk started at the BAMSSA Relaxation Centre at about 10 a.m. and was concluded at about 1 p.m. It covered various parts of the University and several parts of the Ilorin metropolis, especially areas with a high concentration of students and areas with market women and artisans. From the starting point, the walk progressed past the University of Ilorin College of Medicine Administrative building, past the Kwara State Polytechnic gate and then on to the Community Health Building. The walk was also extended to the both the male and female hostel areas on the University of Ilorin campus. Students in the hostels were given handbills and were encouraged to be part of the walk and to stand up against the menace of HIV/AIDS. They were also encouraged to actively participate.

After this, the walk proceeded out of the school gate to various parts of the city of Ilorin.

Mr. Olaniyan coordinated the walk. Speaking through a public address system during the walk, he advised people to play safe. He reminded them that the HIV virus could be contacted through casual unprotected sex, having multiple partners and by sharing sharp piercing objects. He preached a message based on the ABC of AIDS- Abstinence, Be faithful to 1 uninfected partner and Condomize. He advised and encouraged that knowing one�s HIV status was very important. He also discouraged stigmatization, stating that most people that are infected with the HIV virus die from stigmatization by family, friends and neighbors, rather than the effects of the virus. Young women were also encouraged to take an active role and take a stand in the fight against HIV/AIDS as ignorance amongst women has been identified as one of the major reasons for high HIV/AIDS incidence in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

The walk also involved songs in both English and the local language. There was also talent display and this attracted passers-by and some of them even joined the walk.� Handbills and posters were also shared during the walk. The handbills and posters contained information in both English and the local language on the HIV virus and its effects on the Nigerian society and necessary steps to combat it. The handbills also contained information on strategies to employ to combat HIV/AIDS. This included encouraging teenagers to delay the age at which they first have sex, encouraging sex education in homes, schools and places of worship and encouragement of women to actively participate in the fight against HIV/AIDS. People were also encouraged to make sure they go for testing so they can know their HIV status. Stigmatization was also discouraged.

 

 

At around 1, the campaign returned to BAMSSA relaxation centre, the starting point of the walk. Miss Ogunbote, Messrs Olaniyan, Ogunmola and Adewoye addressed the volunteers and thanked them for their participation before and during the walk. Refreshments were also shared to the participants.

As part of her World AIDS Day campaign, HACEY also conducted a survey amongst the students of the University of Ilorin. 500 volunteers participated in this survey. Amongst issues raised in the survey was the number of students in a relationship, those that have just 1 sex partner, and those that have multiple sex partners, those that have engage in casual and multiple sex and how many students engage in unprotected sex. The results of the survey will be released later.

 

 

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN

The University of Ilorin is located in the ancient city of Ilorin, about 500 kilometres from Abuja, the Federal capital. Ilorin, the Capital of Kwara State is strategically located at the geographical and cultural confluence of Northern and Southern. The University of Ilorin was one of the seven institutions of higher learning established by a decree of the Federal Military Government in August, 1975. This step, taken to implement one of the educational directives of the country�s Third National Development Plan, was aimed at providing more opportunities for Nigerians aspiring to acquire university education and to generate high level man-power, so vital for the rapidly expanding economy.

The then University College of Ilorin was initially affiliated to the University of Ibadan. Dr. T.N. Tamuno, Professor and Head of History Department at the University of Ibadan, was appointed the first Principal of the College in September, 1975. Shortly after Professor Tamuno�s appointment as Principal of the College, he was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. It therefore, became necessary to appoint another Principal in the person of Professor O.O. Akinkugbe, former Dean of the then Faculty of Medicine, University of Ibadan, in December 1975.

Following an entrance examination, 200 foundation students were admitted into residence on Saturday, October 23^rd, 1976, and academic activities commenced on Monday, October 25^th, 1976, after the Principal�s maiden address at about 10.00am in the Africa Hall. The University College had three foundation Faculties namely: Arts, Science and Education. The Institution began to develop its programmes in a way that not less than 60% of its effort was directed towards science-oriented programmes. In October 1977, the Institution attained full autonomous status and has since then developed by leaps and bounds. The student population of 200 in 1976 has increased to 20,084 by the 2005/2006 session, while the total staff strength of the University stood at approximately 3,040 as at March 1, 2007.

 

 

COMMENTS FROM VOLUNTEERS

The walk was exciting. It gave me a chance to speak to other young people like myself about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to enlighten them about it.

-Mariam, 200 level, Faculty of Agriculture

People ought to do more things like this. It really touched the community. I really commend HACEY for such a well-thought out event that impacted a lot of people, both participants and the community.

-Paul, 500 Level, Faculty of Engineering

I think the message about HIV/AIDS needs to spread to everybody, to keep reminding those that already know and to tell those who haven�t. Wrong impressions also need to be corrected, and this can�t be done only in conferences and seminars. Programs like this bring it closer to the people.

-Jane, 200 Level, Basic Medical Sciences

I�ve always believed that it is we, the young generation that has to be in the fore front of the fight against AIDS. This walk has helped me do that.

-Bashir, 300 Level, Faculty of Education

HIV/AIDS has grown because it has been cloaked in shame and ignorance. This has to stop. It is only by openly fighting it and talking about it that we can stop it.

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-Bunmi, 300 Level, Faculty of Law