Total, NGO Launch HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign

Total E & P Nigeria Limited in partnership with a Non-Governmental Organisation known as Nike Charity Organisation carried out awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS for Umuobor Communities in Egi clan at the weekend.

Speaking at the event, in Obagi, the Manager, Capacity Development  of Total, Mr Owuso Akobo restated the commitment of the company to the well-being of the people of Egi clan and urged them to take good care of their health.

He advised them to ascertain their HIV/AIDS status, saying that “HIV/AIDS is real”.

He stressed the need for preventive measures as a way of curbing the spread of  the HIV/AIDS pandemic, adding that for now there was no cure for the disease.

Mr Akobo however advised those infected with the disease not to panic as their health condition would be ameliorated with the necessary drugs.

In her keynote address, the chairperson of Nike Charity Organisation, Mrs Christiana Chuku said that 34.2 million people were living with HIV world wide.

According to her, “today is an opportunity for Total E & P Limited and private partners to spread awareness in HIV/AIDS prevention and care for high risk communities like ours”.

She explained that the awareness campaign with the theme “Getting to Zero” signified a giant stride by Total E & P Limited and other stakeholders to rise up and turn the tide of the pandemic.

“The theme is achievable if we do our little bits.  We must focus on the need for relevant information, activism and compassion for people living with AIDS”, she said.

The guest Speaker, Dr Maureen Maduagwu spoke extensively on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and decried the myths and misconceptions about the disease.

She therefore enjoined the people to employ the ABC strategy – Abstinence, Be faithful and use of condom – in the prevention of the pandemic.

Reward Akwu