Ade, East Side’s Manager, had lived in Okoko for over 10 years and when the Strengthening HIV Prevention Services for Most at Risk Populations (SHiPS for MARPs) programme began its behaviour change interventions in Ibadan, Ade revealed later that he’d been afraid that the nature of his job and risky sexual behaviours may have exposed him to the virus and as a result had refused to find out his HIV status because it was better to live in ignorance than deal with a positive result. Upon receiving his result Ade’s relief at being negative was palpable. He vowed to follow through with the risk reduction plan agreed with his counsellor and increase efforts to mobilise female sex workers in his brothel who had previously refused HIV counselling and testing services, to get tested... Continue Reading...