The fight against HIV/AIDS is still on and some organisations have not rested on their oars and their efforts applauded, just like when the Kogi state governor lauded Ecobank and NACA over this. AMAKA IFEAKANDU reports
The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and its HIV component has devastated families and nations across the world for several years. Due to its huge effects, scientists, microbiologists, and other health experts are still battling to get a cure for the scourge.
A lot of children have been rendered orphans, widows and widowers, with some families having to lose their bread winners to the cold hands of death due to HIV/AIDS. While the menace has subsided, efforts are still on to evolve strategies that will completely wipe it out.
Some organisations and individuals have done so much to alleviate the suffering that accompanies the effects of the menace called HIV/AIDS.
In the light of this, Kogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada recently commended Ecobank Nigeria and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for their support towards the eradication of the HIV/AIDS disease from the Nigeria.
The governor was speaking at the ground- breaking ceremony for the building of a Youth Friendly Centre at the Kogi State University, Anyigba. The centre is designed to engage students in recreational activities, while providing a setting for dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS in a non-threatening manner.
It also provide a unique opportunity for students to go for HIV counseling and testing in a ‘friendly’ environment. The centre has four sections games bay, library with HIV/AIDS material, internet cafe/CD and video room and allied services section.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Idris Omede, said the decision of Ecobank to finance the centre was commendable, stressing that it would go a long way to checking the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the state and the country.
“This Ecobank-NACA initiative is commendable. This will complement our efforts at tackling the scourge of the disease in the state. The disease has both social and economic impacts and there is need to scale up interventions to reduce new infections and minimize effects of the virus. The government is firmly in support of projects such as this to check the epidemic.”
In his address, Deputy Managing Director, Tony Okpanachi, said the vision of the centre stems from the desire to use all available opportunities to give back and contribute effectively towards the society in which the bank operates. “We believe young people need a friendly, non-threatening environment that would offer recreational facilities and at the same time provide free guidance and counselling and access to information on reproductive health issues and HIV/AIDS.”
He explained that the centres which have already been established in seven tertiary institutions in the country are designed to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS, assuring that the centre in Kogi State University will be completed on schedule.
Vice Chancellor, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Prof. Hassan Isah, assured that the centre will be beneficial to the University Community which harbours about 25, 000 youths, assuring that the facility will be put to good use. “We are deeply elated that Ecobank and NACA selected our school for this project and indeed the first state university to be selected in the country. Our obligations which includes the provision of guidance counsellors, centre administrator, volunteer peer educators, cleaners and security personnels will be honoured to the letter, while financial obligations to ensure a proper take off and functioning of the centre, will be pursued with vigour.”
Director General, NACA, Prof. John Idoko who was represented by Director, Partnerships Coordination, Dr. Emmanuel Alhassan, lauded the partnership with Ecobank which has seen to the establishment of such centres in seven tertiary institutions across the country. “We will provide oversight functions for the centre, to ensure adherence to standards, aside from being responsible for providing the technical assistance and capacity building for the staff of the centre, as well as the facilitation of relevant materials. The centre will also provide counselling and guidance on HIV/AIDS, career, emotional issues and all that.”
The NACA-Ecobank Youth Friendly Centres have been established in University of Uyo; University of Jos; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Port Harcourt; University of Abuja; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Kongo Campus) and the Bayero University, Kano.
Incorporated as a public limited liability company on October 7, 1986, Ecobank Nigeria Ltd is a subsidiary of Africa’s leading independent banking group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI). Ecobank is a full-service bank providing wholesale, retail, investment and transaction banking services and products to governments, financial institutions, multinationals, international organizations, medium, small and micro businesses and individuals.
