HIV infection is the leading cause of death in women of reproductive age. (Photo Courtesy UNAIDS/P.Virot)

OVER one million Nigerians are being mobilised to walk and march against HIV/AIDS from National Stadium, Surulere to Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos to create more awareness on the need for voluntary testing to know ones HIV status on December 5.

Tagged One Million March Against HIV/AIDS, the walk is put together by Million March Against HIV/AIDS, a non-governmental organisation (MMAAIDS) in association with a communications firm, Eslia.

In a statement signed by the Project Director of MMAAIDS, Mrs. Toyin Daira, the walk would involve participants wearing free MMAAIDS jerseys along the designated route and would draw attention to the fact that Persons Living with HIV should not be discriminated against.

The walk will feature lectures, talks and personal life experiences with regards to the HIV pandemic.

According to Mrs. Daira, the march would be carnival-like with the route festooned with banners, partners' emblems, coupled with floats to complement the outing.

Artistes, musicians, comedians and entertainers would feature in the march. There will also be a raffle draw for participants at the march.

The debut march in Lagos is expected to be an annual event and it would be rotated amongst the states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the statement said.