BYSACA Reaches Out to Swali, Host Community for World Social Work Day

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As part of activities to mark the World Social Work Day, the Bayelsa State Agency for the Control of AIDS, BYSACA has carried out HIV Counseling and Testing services to people of Swali Ultramodern market.

BYSACA Prevention Officer, Dr Abite Ezekiel who counselled residents on the need to get tested noted that it is important for people to know their HIV status in order to take precautionary measures.

He explained that most persons with HIV look and feel healthy so they may not know that they have the virus hence the need for testing.

He added that an HIV positive test is not a death sentence as there is treatment that can help to suppress it if taken consistently and correctly, would overtime become untransmittable.

However, he pointed out that prevention of HIV are the precautionary measures such as abstinence, use of condoms and taking Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for those who are at high risk of contracting HIV.

HIV Testing and Counseling Officers, Mr Godbless Pelesai and Mrs Hannah Dadugobo who conducted the screening exercise urged more persons to make themselves available.

Meanwhile, some residents of Swali who spoke to BYSACA Information Officer, Ebizimo Agedah noted that they know that HIV test is free but still find it difficult to visit designated health facilities to carry out the test due to various reasons which some listed to include fear, being too busy, attitude of health workers among others.

BYSACA Reaches Out to Swali, Host Community for World Social Work Day

The Bayelsa State Agency for the Control of AIDS, BYSACA called on all residents of Yenagoa to visit their office located at the 4th floor of the middle transparency building in Oxbow lake, Swali.

BYSACA urges all residents of Yenagoa to ensure that they know their HIV status by getting tested.