The Osun government has called for more awareness among adolescent youth about the spread and prevention of HIV and AIDS.

The prevention officer of the State Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS, Omolara Adeleke, made the call during the 4th quarterly meeting of the Adolescent and Young People’s Development Technical Working Group in Osogbo.

The meeting was facilitated by the State Primary Healthcare Board, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Ms Adeleke, while presenting statistics on HIV prevalence and transmission among adolescents and young people in the state, said that girls were becoming increasingly vulnerable to the virus.

She said that the exposure of young girls to early sex in the state was becoming worrisome and that most of them lacked adequate sexual orientation regarding the risk of HIV infection or its prevention.

According to her, some secondary-school teenage girls in the state are in the habit of sneaking out at night to engage in prostitution and carry only contraceptives to prevent pregnancy rather than condoms to prevent transmission of the virus.

She said the 2024 record of people living with HIV in the state revealed that 708 children aged 10–14 years are living with the virus, and 862 adolescents aged 15–19 also have the virus.

Ms Adeleke added that 1,277 young adults aged 20–24 and 1,880 adults aged 25–29 are living with the virus in the state.

She further explained that the available statistics also show that more females than males are living with the virus in Osun.

Ms Adeleke said that it was important to educate young people about the causes and prevention of the virus. She said that prevention, early detection through regular testing, abstinence from sex, and staying faithful to one partner are some of the ways to stop the spread of the virus.

She said that the agency would not relent in its awareness programme on the causes and prevention of the virus among the residents in the state.

Roseline Akinlabi, adolescents’ health desk officer at the Primary Healthcare Board, said the quarterly meeting was designed to improve the welfare and healthcare of adolescents in the state.

Ms Akinlabi urged stakeholders, including civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, the media, and other government agencies working with adolescents and young people, to develop life-changing programmes for young people in 2026.

She stressed the importance of enlightening adolescents about digital safety and social-media bullying, which she said often results in mental-health issues for young people.

Ms Akinlabi said stakeholders must develop effective programmes to protect and support young people and adolescents.

She appreciated all the stakeholders for the impact they have made in the lives of young adolescents in the state in 2025 and charged them to do more in 2026.

(NAN)