Thursday, July 21, 2016, will forever remain memorable to the people of Delta State. It was a day Total Nigeria launched an educational project on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculoses and Malaria.
Residents of Asaba, the state capital, were overjoyed for this initiative, which they described as very laudable.
During the two-week programme, residents of the state capital were counselled on how to prevent some of these diseases, which have claimed lives of many people in the country.
Highlights of the event included massive deployment of free HIV/AIDS Testing and Counseling Services (HTS) across Asaba and its environs in Delta state from July 11 to 23, 2016. At the end of the HTS, about 3389 people accessed the HIV/AIDS free test.
Also, a total of 2006 males were tested and 10 out of them were reactive.
Similarly, 1,383 females got tested out of which 14 were reactive. These tests were carried out by Certified Testers from the Delta State Agency for Control of Aids (SACA).
The reactive cases were further counselled by the testers and attached to Identified support groups for further management.
Additionally, there was a four-day intensive peer educator training of 25 Total customer attendants. Upon conclusion of the training they were presented certificates as certified Peer Educators for the project.
The peer educators, tasked to take the campaign to Total customers as they sell products on their stations’ forecourts, were empowered with appropriate knowledge and tools like informative leaflets, posters and condoms.
These are to assist them execute effectively their task of informing and educating the Asaba community. Project facilitation was implemented by the Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS (NIBUCAA) as well as Delta SACA (State Agency for Control of AIDS).
Present at the event were students from the Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku; Secretary to the Delta State Government Hon. Festus Ovie-Agas; Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Health Dr E. S. Otobo who represented the State Commissioner for Health, Project Manager, Delta State Agency for Control of AIDS Dr John Osuyali; Functioning Permanent Secretary Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs Mr Sunday Omamofo; Oshimili South Local Government Chairman represented by Barrister Philips Nwaokolo; the Asagba of Asaba represented by Obi Benebe Ugboko amongst other dignitaries like the Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Commission of Police represented by Dr. Jude Uwaifo of the Police Hospital Asaba, Delta State Health Management Board, The Asaba Community Youth and of course, the Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS, Total’s Technical partner on the project.
Representing the Management of the Total Group in Nigeria were Prince Jeff Nnamani (Executive Director, Strategy), Mr Albert Mabuyaku (Corporate Affairs Manager), Mr Babatunde Omojola (Territorial Sales Manager East) and Mr Patrick Akade (Retails Sales Manager Benin) amongst other employees of Total Nigeria Plc. Representing Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria amongst others also was Dr Charles Ngeribara.
