NPA, Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Conduct Free HIV Testing For Truck Drivers At Tin Can

In commemoration of the 'World Aids Day’ celebration in Nigeria, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in conjunction with the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Trade and Transport Facilitation Project yesterday kicked-off a campaign against HIV and AIDS pandemic, even as free tests and status check were carried out for container truck drivers at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.

In commemoration of the 'World Aids Day’ celebration in Nigeria, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in conjunction with the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Trade and Transport Facilitation Project yesterday kicked-off a campaign against HIV and AIDS pandemic, even as free tests and status check were carried out for container truck drivers at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Chairperson HIV/AIDS committee of the NPA, Dr. Datong Comfort, who spoke at the venue yesterday, explained that the Worlds Aids Day celebration was meant to hold yearly on 1st of December, but that Nigeria could not hold her’s due to logistics problems.
She explained that the sensitization and free status check is strictly for the truck drivers and their motor boys as well as the women traders among them.
This according to her is the second leg of the earlier awareness campaign carried out few months ago on how to successfully use condoms for protection during sex.
"The Abuja Lagos corridor is a trade corridor and their aim is to get all the trade passage easy for businessmen, and in our own way, we are facing the HIV pandemic which is really common among the truckers, they are more vulnerable and always on the road, they do not go on the journeys with their wives and they just pick women on the road side", she said, adding that, "so we are sensitizing them on HIV and methods of prevention and the proper use of condoms".
According to her, there is a lot of confidentiality about the checking process and whoever is found positive will be sent to a free management centre where proper care will be given and the person will live a normal life.
"If you know your status early, then you will keep yourself and protect yourself and if you are positive you will not want to pass it to another person", she affirmed.
Dr. Datong however lamented that the truck drivers have not shown much interest and enthusiasm towards the programme.
"The truck drivers are very difficult people to manage, time is money to them, I have visited them, sensitized them and yet they are not ready to come, but we will keep trying", she stated.