The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) have tested not less than 73,062 Nigerians on HIV in Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Taraba states. Mr Bolaji Anani, National President, NRCS, disclosed this in an interview with journalists  Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Anani, 73,062 persons were tested and counselled in the three states, out of which 392 persons tested positive.
The president said each of the states had 220 volunteers recruited as testers and supervisors who conducted HIV testing, counselling and referred to various health facilities. He said the HIV testing and counselling project was conducted door to door in each community while volunteers were given testing kits and consumables such as gloves and coats.

 Anani said support groups such as the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS were present to provide psycho-social support to reactive patients.
The president stated that each reactive patient was confirmed through various stages and referred to various health facilities in their respective communities for further counselling and free medication.

 ``Nigerian Red Cross Society has a mission to assist victims of disaster, implement health and social welfare programmes while promoting humanitarian principles in Nigeria.

 ``NRCS in collaboration with NACA trained 660 community based volunteers across the three states of Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Taraba states on HIV in the first quarter of the year,’’ he said.
Anani said the society over the past two years extended its support to millions of households with health messages across the country.
He said that counselling in trauma management, sexual and gender based violence survival support, among others, were some of the health and social welfare programmes provided by the society.

 The national president urged government agencies, donor agencies, local, corporate and international organisations as well as individuals to partner and identify with the vision of NRSC.