Total Takes HIV Campaign to Imo, Restates Commitment to CSR

Total Nigeria Plc has taken campaign against HIV/AIDS project to Owerri, Imo State, in a move to give back to its host communities
The oil marketing firm, in collaboration with Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS (NIBUCAA), initiated the project to educate the indigenes of the host communities on prevention of the worldÕs most deadly disease.
Speaking at the official launching of the project in Owerri recently, Mr. Dominiqu Thiolon, managing director of Total Nigeria Plc, said the company was worried about the devastating challenge that the virus had caused to fundamentals of human development in the past three decades, hence the need to embark on the project.
He said the initiative would further prove to the stakeholders that Total was not just an economic partner to the nation and its people, but also actively involved and concerned with their health and prosperity.
He said that “fight against HIV/AIDS is a fight for the protection of the nation, our host communities, our employees and our families. This fight, which has been taken up by the Total Group world-wide is an essential component of our group’s sustainable development policy, and as such is fully integrated into our global strategy and all aspects of our operation”
According to him, in 2006, over 20 service station attendants were trained as HIV/ADIS Peer Educators and the group latter trained thousands of people, both customers and community members on the risk of HIV/AIDS and the preventive measures. Also, he said more than 6,000 persons accessed the free testing, which was made available at the participating stations.
The stations, which benefited in the second phase of the programme include those located in major cities like Benin, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. While the third phase was extended to Calabar, Katsina, Makurdi and Owerri respectively.
Dr. Vin Udokwu, commissioner for Health, Imo State acknowledged Total for the laudable initiative, saying that the project was in line with government’s responses.
He said: “The health sector can not do it alone without the support of other sectors like you, due to limited human, finance and material resources. Your kind of project makes it easier to reach out to the grassroots”
According to him, the state has the mandate to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS from 3.9 per cent in 2005 to 20 per cent by the end of 2010. This, he said, is expected to be achieved through various approaches being put in place in various areas of the state.
Meanwhile, Mr. Olusina Falana, executive secretary, NIBUCA, said in the ongoing partnership with Total, the body has been building the capacity of selected company employees through intensive two-day HIV prevention education training.
He described the value added to the project as the provision of HIV counseling and testing, which would continue till everyone is knowledgeable about their HIV status.
Falana therefore urged all citizens of Imo State who do not know their HIV status to avail themselves of the opportunity by the free HIV counseling and testing in Total filling station nearest to them.