In a critical move to address a growing public health concern, the Osun State Government has issued an urgent call for intensified awareness campaigns targeting adolescent and youth populations regarding the spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS. This appeal underscores a pressing need to confront demographic-specific vulnerabilities with tailored interventions.
The call to action was made by Mrs. Omolara Adeleke, Prevention Officer of the State Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS (OSACA), during the 4th quarterly meeting of the Adolescent and Young People’s Development Technical Working Group in Osogbo. The meeting, a collaborative effort facilitated by the State Primary Healthcare Board in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), served as a platform to dissect alarming trends and strategize a path forward.
Adeleke presented a stark statistical portrait that reveals the depth of the challenge. The 2024 data for Osun State shows a troubling penetration of HIV across younger age brackets:
- 708 children aged 10–14 years are living with the virus.
- 862 adolescents aged 15–19 are living with the virus.
- 1,277 young adults aged 20–24 are living with the virus.
- 1,880 adults aged 25–29 are living with the virus.
This progression highlights infection pathways that often begin in adolescence, making early intervention paramount. The data further reveals a significant gender disparity, with more females living with the virus than males in the state.
“The exposure of young girls to early sex in the state is becoming worrisome,” Adeleke stated, pinpointing a core behavioral risk factor. She provided a poignant example of the gap in preventive knowledge: “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.” This critical distinction between pregnancy prevention and disease prevention illustrates a fundamental misunderstanding that leaves young women dangerously vulnerable.
Adeleke emphasized the cornerstone prevention strategies: comprehensive education on causes and transmission, early detection through regular testing, abstinence, and mutual faithfulness. She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to relentless awareness programs. However, the meeting expanded the scope of concern beyond traditional sexual health education.
Mrs. Roseline Akinlabi, the Adolescents Health Desk Officer for the Primary Healthcare Board, broadened the discussion to encompass the holistic well-being of young people. She stressed the urgent need to address digital safety and social-media bullying, which are increasingly recognized as catalysts for mental health issues among adolescents. This link is crucial; poor mental health can lead to riskier behaviors, including those that increase HIV exposure. Akinlabi’s point reframes adolescent health as an interconnected ecosystem where digital, mental, and physical well-being are inseparable.
The meeting concluded with a charge to all stakeholders—including civil society organizations, NGOs, the media, and government agencies—to develop innovative, life-changing programs for 2026. The goal is not merely to inform but to create supportive environments that empower adolescents to make safer choices. This involves moving beyond one-off seminars to sustained engagement, leveraging platforms youth already use, and integrating messages of sexual health with digital literacy and mental resilience.
The data from Osun State serves as a microcosm of a broader national challenge. It reveals that defeating HIV/AIDS requires a dual-front battle: one against the virus itself through biomedical and behavioral interventions, and another against the underlying social determinants—like gender inequality, economic pressure, digital harms, and information gaps—that fuel its spread among the young. The call from Osun is clear: protecting the next generation demands a comprehensive, compassionate, and context-specific strategy that meets adolescents where they are, both physically and digitally.
Edited by Victor Adeoti
About Author
