Total enlightens drivers on HIV/AIDS
It is believed that truck/lorry drivers are particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of being away from their spouses or regular sex partners for long periods and the frequent interstate trips which predispose them to multiple sex partners It is against this backdrop that Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria recently launched a one-week HIV/AIDS awareness campaign […]
It is believed that truck/lorry drivers are particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of being away from their spouses or regular sex partners for long periods and the frequent interstate trips which predispose them to multiple sex partners
It is against this backdrop that Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria recently launched a one-week HIV/AIDS awareness campaign for the truck drivers, which the company said is designed to help Nigeria check the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The theme of the campaign was “Think Health and Safety first… Oga Driver” and it took place at the Headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Garki in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The event was organized in collaboration with Public Health and Community Development Centre (PHCDC) a Non Governmental Organization, and other stakeholders.
During the campaign, participants also benefited from free eye tests, height, weight, blood pressure and HIV/STD’s tests.
Commenting on the programme, the General Manager (Corporate CSR) Dr Justus Pearse said: “For us at Total, we regard HIV as a chronic communicable disease and hence, stigmatization is not allowed. We would like to encourage you all here to embark on voluntary testing and pre/post counseling in the spirit of this flag-off and the entire campaign.” In her speech, the Medical Director of the PHCDC, Dr Ima Kashim noted that “the well being of drivers is important to all road users.”
Speaking, President, NURTW Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin who was represented by Deputy General Secretary, Chief John Olaoye described the commitment of the union to the campaign as a testimony that beyond co-ordinating and controlling motor parks, the union gives premium to the safety and health of her members and society as a whole.
Other Stakeholders at the event were the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS (NIBUCAA), FRSC, FCT Agency for the Control of AIDS (FACA), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
Highlights of the occasion were the presentation of certificates to 40 Peer educators who had earlier been trained to administer and counsel participants before and after the tests as well as the announcement of toll free numbers (122, 622), in the event of poor driving or HIV concerns by the FRSC and NACA respectively.