ALCO partners port authority to fight HIV/AIDS among port users

As part of its efforts to combat the menace of Human Immune Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the nation’s seaport, the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation (ALCO) has joined forces with the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to fight the dreaded virus.

In its recent intervention workshop held in Lagos to educate peer education trainers, which comprised of truck operators and other artisans operating within the port community, Comfort Datong, chairperson, NPA HIV/AIDS Enlightenment and Sensitisation Standing Committee, said that the management through the campaign is making an appreciable effort to ensure the well being of artisans, truck operators and other port users.

With this campaign initiative, she said the port authority empowers the maritime sectors and the public at large to contribute meaningfully to boosting the growth of the nation’s economic gateway by guaranteeing the greater standard of living of port users.

Datong, who said that the campaign is critical to fighting the menace of HIV/AIDS on workforce, also urged the participants to take serious that vital information that will help them in keeping their health intact.

However, the management of NPA appealed to stakeholders to contribute meaningfully in boosting the effort of the committee in the campaign against HIV/AIDS, which in the long-run will help to ensure that maritime activities in the country grows in line with the international best practices by utilising healthy workforce.

The highlight of the workshop was training peer educators, who are expected to network within their terminals and train others; distribution of condom; voluntary counselling and testing as well as training people on the use of abstinence, being faithful and condom (ABC) to fight HIV/AIDS.

The participants were drawn from various ports including Ports and Cargo, PTML, ENL Consortium, Tin-Can Island Container Terminals, APM Terminals, Greenview Development, Apapa Bulk Terminal and Eko Support services.