demands an exceptional response, stakeholders have charged dedicated
researchers, health care professionals, clinical trial participants and
members of the global community not to relent in ensuring that the
spread of HIV/AIDs in Nigeria be reduced to the barest minimum.
This charge was made over the weekend at the Nigerian Business
Coalition against AIDS [NiBUCCA] high impact CEO partnership Dinner.
While addressing pressmen, the Executive Secretary, NiBUCCA, Gbenga
Alabi noted that it is important for the private sector to partner with
NIBUCAA in its drive to eradicate HIV/AIDS from Nigeria, quoting Juan
Somavia, a former Director General of the International Labour
Organization, said two out of three people living with HIV or AIDS go to
work everyday, making the workplace s vital entry point for tackling
the menace.
across the country and committed to fighting the menace at all levels,
represents the voice of Nigerian private sector response to HIV/AIDS,
hence, the coalition which seeks to build a public-private partnership
with government, civil society organization and international donor
community, among other objectives, will promote activities encouraging
demand for HIV voluntary confidential counseling and testing in the
workplace.
“Nigeria’s greatest assets and investment opportunity is its human
capital, therefore, all hands must be on deck at ensuring that the human
capital, which is the country’s source of economic growth and
development be protected and enlightened about the menace of AIDS/HIV,”
Alabi added.
Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe in the same vein urged operators in the private
sector to join hands in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS. Wigwe,
who is a Co-Chair of the board of NIBUCAA said that the scourge of
HIV/AIDS still persists in the country with Nigeria having the second
largest AIDS population in the world.
“We have to realize that HIV/AIDS is not just a health problem, it is
a developmental challenge. Therefore, the private sector cannot afford
to be complacent with regards to the scourge. It is eminently desirable
that private sector supports all efforts geared towards the realization
of the goal of the multi-sectoral response to HIV pandemic in particular
under the Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.
In his own comment at the dinner party, Nicolas Terras, Managing
Director of Total E&P Nigeria and a Co-chair of NIBUCAA board, said
the fight against HIV/AIDS is too big for the government to handle
alone.
roles to play in the multi- sectoral response to HIV and AIDS, adding
that the scourge is one that must be won at all costs.
He said NIBUCAA, as a platform should be a veritable channel for the
private sector to utilize their core competencies and resources towards
addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country.
Another member of board, Engr Osagie Okunbor of Shell Petroleum
Development Company, said the organization since its establishment has
achieved a lot in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but added that a lot still
needed to be done.
He said that is the more reason why other companies must come onboard
NIBUCAA in other to achieve one of its goals of supporting the private
sector to establish and implement workplace and community- based
HIV/AIDS prevention and education programmes.
Earlier in her remark, Head of Sustainability in Access Bank Plc,
Mrs. Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan said since the establishment of NIBUCAA
by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, it has been able to get
the private sector participation in the country’s battle against the
HIV/AIDS scourge.
She said participating companies or those willing to partner NIBUCAA will benefit immensely from the partnership.
“Aside from providing access to training sessions and workplace
interventions, NIBUCAA will also assist member companies to develop and
implement workplace HIV/AIDS policies and progrmmes, including
prevention education that will reinforce desired safer sex behavior,
voluntary confidential counselling, testing, and treatment,” she said.
According to her, there’re three levels of annual membership fees for
member companies, Platinum membership goes for N15m, and Gold
membership is N10m while Silver membership is N5m.