Chevron earmarks $1.4 million for HIV campaign in Bayelsa
Chevron Nigeria Limited, in partnership with the Bayelsa State government and a United States-based non-governmental organisation, Pact, has launched the second phase of its Prevention of Mother to child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PROMOT 11) project in which the oil major is to commit $1.4 million in funding to ensure a successful outing in three local councils of Bayelsa State.
In this phase, over 2,000 pregnant women are to be tested for the dreaded disease and capacity of community health centres and workers upgraded for better performance.
In his remarks, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron Nigeria, Deji Haastrup, said PROMOT 1 was a huge success as the project helped in reducing prevalence rate in the state from 9.1 to 3.8 per cent in 2010, the third best in the country.
Represented by Esimaje Brikin, the company’s Area Manager, West, Haastrup added that the concept was a private sector-led social sustainable, community-based initiative for the Niger Delta.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Health, Dr. Kojo Omietimi, thanked the firm for the sponsorship, adding that the project was timely.
According to Nigeria’s Director of Pact, Trevor Maisiri: “In the first phase which lasted four years, 294,000 were reached with HIV messages, over 50, 000 pregnant women were tested for the scourge and received their results, while almost 700 pregnant women were placed on antiretroviral prophylaxis.”
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1 Comments
This is a welcome development. At http://www.health2wealth.com.ng we also promote healthy living habit to prevent spread of HIV. Our members in Bayelsa will be glad to participate.
We will review and take appropriate action.