Ibadan –  As the celebration of the 54th anniversary of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, entered  its second day on Tuesday, residents of the city  shunned the free  public screening for HIV/AIDS held at Bodija Market.

A correspondent at the event reports that as at 12 noon, only three persons turned up to ascertain  their HIV status.

Other stands, especially  those for checking blood pressure, teeth, eye, blood sugar level, weight and first aid,  recorded  large number of visitors wanting to undergo the screening.

Speaking on the development, Mrs Victoria Taiwo, the leader of the medical team and Deputy Director, Public Health Nursing, said the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS might be responsible for the poor turnout.

She, however,  expressed optimism that residents  would still come for the HIV screening.

“For HIV, I believe people will still come though the stigma may not allow some to do so. But we know how to attend to them,’’ Taiwo said.

She said the free medical screening was the hospital’s own effort at corporate social responsibility to its host community.

Taiwo urged residents to always avail themselves of such opportunities, saying the UCH management spent a lot of money to hold the event.

One of the visitors, 80-year-old Mr Olanrewaju Raufu, from Beere area told NAN that he came to check his blood pressure and to test both eyes,  saying he could not see well.

Another visitor, 67-year-old Mrs Sinatu Aminu from Samonda area said she came to complain about pains in her legs and back as well as to check her blood pressure and weight.

Many of the visitors at the event, however,  said they had faith in the capacity of  UCH to solve their medical problems and commended the hospital for the initiative. (NAN)