On the 23^rd of June, 2021, the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA) supported the medical outreach by the NYSC Lagos State Secretariat at Olorunisola, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Lagos.

The outreach was organised to reach the less-privileged along the NYSC Secretariat areas in Lagosso inhabitants can have access to health services and achieve better health outcomes. The team provided medical test kits, including facemasks and hand Sanitizers to help the people stay safe during COVID-19.

There is a continuous need for health interventions in rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria, as rural populations are less likely to use preventive health services and have a higher disease burden compared to the general population.

The Baale of Olorunisola town, Iyana Ipaja, spoke on the importance of good health and how pleased he was that Government and Non-Governmental Organisations were working hand in hand to deal with health issues in communities.

NIBUCAA supported the outreach by providing HIV test kits and distributing Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to 300 beneficiaries to increase their knowledge about HIV and help them make better sexual health choices. The beneficiaries were also tested for HIV and educated on the importance of knowing their HIV status.

Damilola Araoye, Programs and Evaluation officer at NIBUCAA, stated the need for increased awareness of HIV/AIDS, especially in underserved communities. In her words,

“We are led by the commitment to support HIV prevention efforts and improve the health and productivity of challenged communities across Nigeria”.

In a short speech, the State Co-ordinator of the NYSC secretariat acknowledged NIBUCAA’s work and spoke on the importance of the outreach,

“Community outreaches are about helping those who cannot help themselves. We are particularly happy about NIBUCAA coming out today to help us achieve this”.

One of the Beneficiaries, Mrs Olaide Olorunsola, a small business owner, and mother of two teenagers spoke of how she had benefitted from the program. She told the team how she has better knowledge of how to take care of her health and how to better educate her children on their sexual and Reproductive Health.

Mr Johnson Badejo, another beneficiary, thanked NIBUCAA and the entire team for helping him know how more about HIV, including how to prevent it.

To improve health outcomes in underserved communities, we all need to play a critical role in improving and extending the reach of health care services for life-threatening health issues such as HIV/AIDS, through health education, providing access to services and other interventions.

Through NIBUCAA’s work, partnership and innovative solution are deployed to improve health and productivity in communities across Nigeria and end the HIV/AIDS pandemic.