The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in collaboration with its development partners has organised a two-day programme to commemorate the 2020 World Aids Day with the theme ‘Resilience,’ which aims is to sensitize, educate, and conduct free HIV test among its staff.
Addressing staff at the event, on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite said the World AIDS day is a globally set aside to promote awareness of the disease, stating that the Ministry observes the World Aids Day in order to promote healthy living in the Mines and Steel sector.
A statement signed by Information Officer in the ministry, Theodore Agbagwa, quoted the minister as saying: ‘The World AIDS day celebration is a reflection of what have been achieved, with regards to national global response to HIV and what needs to be achieved,’ the minister said, adding that it is an important opportunity to celebrate and support global effort to prevent the infection.
The minister, who was represented by the Director, Human Resources, Mohammed Suleiman, reiterated the commitment of the ministry to prevention of HIV saying that the ministry had set up a Ministerial HIV Committee AIDS in 2010 to anchor and promote healthy living among Nigerians and the world at large.
He noted that ‘this year programme of the committee includes sensitization, enlightenment campaign and HIV testing of the staff of the Ministry and its agencies.’
Adegbite enjoined staff to take advantage of the opportunity, and imbibe the lesson of the event.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, Defence Headquarters Medical Centre, Mogadusu Cantonment, Dr. Philip Lenka said World AIDS Day started in 1988 aimed at showing support for those living with HIV and AIDS and also to identify with those who lost their loved ones to the dreaded scourge of AIDS and its related illnesses, while urging Ministry’s Staff and other stakeholders in the programme to have it at the back of their minds that HIV and AIDS is real.
