ANSACA Conducts HIV, Other Disease Tests For Naira Rice Workers
By Chukwuemeka Modilim
The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has conducted HIV and other disease tests for workers at Naira Rice Industry aimed at ensuring the safety of the area.
The programme led by the Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke saw his team test the workers and their management for HIV, tuberculosis and screened them of HepatitIs B and C, put them through HIV prevention protocols as well as encouraged them to know their status.
Speaking to journalists after the programme, Dr. Okeke said that a work place deserves a healthy workforce as workplaces where one could easily contract HIV disease if not properly screened, will put many lifes at risk.
According to him, anywhere the agency found people to be HIV positive, they will be linked to sustainable care, saying that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has directed ANSACA to begin a massive sensitzation and awareness across all the work places in Anambra, and to achieve this task, ANSACA will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministries of Environment and Entertainment in coming days so that the agency will be fully integrated into all the places as necessary for it to deepen sensitzation and awareness.
The ANSACA boss assured that after the agency has conducted the HIV test on Naira Rice workers,they will convey the results appropriately with high level of confidentiality and professionalism to the clients and issue the company a certificate compliance showing that the place has been certified by ANSACA as a healthy workplace,even as he urged business owners, entrepreneurs to collaborate to collaborate with them to ensure a healthy workplace in Anambra.
In his remarks,the Chief Executive Officer of Naira Rice, Mr Arinze Omenwa described the programme as a well thought out initiative and appreciated Governor Chukwuma Soludo and ANSACA Boss, Dr. Okeke for their commitment to eliminating HIV in the state.
