By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To deepen HIV/AIDS awareness, Access Holdings Plc, the headline sponsor of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, has partnered with the HACEY Health Initiative and the Nigeria Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA).
On Saturday, February 10, 2024, several athletes will gather for the yearly marathon in Lagos. The iconic event, designed to celebrate athleticism and community engagement, has put Lagos on the world map.
Regarded as the world’s fastest-growing road race, the marathon has become one of the continent’s biggest platforms for cultural exchange, contributing significantly to tourism and as a result, boosting the continent’s economy.
This year, the organisers plan to impact 20,000 individuals with the awareness of best practices to manage their health and wellbeing as well as reduce the spread of the virus.
To this end, Access Holdings, through its implementation partners, last week flagged off a health drive that will extend to the Marathon grounds, and see participants benefit from free HIV screening and counselling.
Over the previous editions, Access Holdings’ HIV testing and counselling drives have directly benefited over 13,618 individuals.
Additionally, the organisation and its partners have increased awareness of HIV prevention and safety across different LCDAs in Lagos, reaching over 50,010 people.
Through these efforts, 63 reactive patients have received referral care and psychosocial support, while 22,272 condoms and IEC materials have been distributed.
“Our partnership is demonstrative of our dedication to leveraging large-scale events like the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon to drive positive change in our communities.
“By prioritising HIV/AIDS awareness and testing, we are taking significant steps towards a healthier, informed and more empowered society,” the Head of Group Sustainability at Access Holdings, Ms Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, said.
Dipo Olowookere