Fashola, Exco members undergo HIV test

March 23, 2010 :: Olasunkanmi Akoni and Monsur Olowoopejo, Vanguard Newspapers

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and members of the State Executive Council on Monday went through a free HIV test to determine their status.

The test which held at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja was responded to by members of the State Executive Council as well as civil servants who turned out in their large numbers at the various centres. However, few of the members of the State Executive Council failed to undergo the test on personal grounds.

Fashola who led his aides in the exercise, appealed to residents to take advantage of the free HIV test being offered at the various state hospitals to know their status and said knowing one's status did not amount to a death sentence since government has put in place measures to provide free treatment  for those who tested HIV positive. 

Head of the Lagos State AIDS Control Project, Dr Olusegun Ogboye told newsmen that the motive of the exercise was to enable the Executive Council members know their status and also convince residents on the need to come out and make use of the opportunity.

He said it would also serve  as a good opportunity for those at the corridor of power to show leadership by example, adding that members of the State House of Assembly have undergone the test