NPA partners ALCO to intensify fight against AIDS, hepatitis at ports

The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has in partnership with the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation (ALCO) intensified fight against the risks of HIV/AIDS as well as hepatitis B through reaching out to truckers, port users and other artisans operating in the port.

The project, whose implementation in Nigeria started in 2012 within the Tin-Can Island and Lagos Port complex in a quarterly sensitisation programme, has recorded a result that has superseded its annual result in the year 2013.

Statistics has shown that about 30 million people living along West African’ main east and west route, which stretches from Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire to Lagos in Nigeria while 14 million people travel along the corridor each year, showing that the route is essential to the socio-economic development of the region.

Also, transport business in African is a major route for the spread of HIV among drivers owing to the fact that the usually stay days across the border awaiting Customs clearance to take delivery of the importer’s consignment to the destined warehouse. This creates ample opportunities for contacting HIV and STI.

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony of the five days sensitisation programme tagged: ‘Getting to Zero’ at the Tin-Can port, Comfort Datong, chairman of the NPA standing committee on HIV/AIDS, said that project, which is aimed at increasing access to HIV prevention, basic treatment and care to the vulnerable groups, also noted that the project has identified 26 HIV-positive patients and 25 hepatitis B-positives patients, who are currently being treated at the referrer centre in Yaba.

Datong, who emphasised the importance of people being aware of their status, added that the identified carriers have been receiving antiretroviral therapy from the centre to live a normal life. “It is good for people to know their status because ignorance can lead to death if the carrier is deeply affected such that the person’s immunity becomes down.”

According to her, the project is World Bank-assisted in collaboration with the countries situated along the Abidjan-Lagos trade corridor for the benefit of truck drivers and other artisans, who are vulnerable without anybody to care for their health needs. She stated that the committee tries as much as possible to protect the privacy of the carriers to enable them feel free to come for the next test.