NLC Wants Workers To Check HIV Status

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, has called on Nigerian workers across the country to go for HIV tests, while assuring of the association’s support.

He gave the charge last Friday in Abuja at a meeting between his executives and those of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) where an NLC Mobile VCCT (NLC Voluntary Confidential Counselling and Testing) was launched.

The facility would enable all Nigerian workers to access confidential testing of HIV/AIDS across the country.

Omar said that Nigerian workers are part of the most vulnerable group, so all workers should adhere to the call  as the association  is always there to protect their interest.

He stated that the test is an all-round advantage to all Nigeria, workers because it would make them to know their status, but assured that the workers would be protected from all forms of discrimination and stigmatization.

“Thus, whether the result is positive or negative, there is a good answer; being positive makes the worker to be more careful and not spread the virus, besides, there is treatment which allows us to live long, productive and healthy lives while being negative makes us avoid risky behaviour that could expose us to the virus and thus, we can as well continue to live long productive, healthy lives.”

Beyond the call to every Nigerian worker to be tested, the NLC president tasked the executives of the NLC in the states to continue to carry the messages to the communities so as to further sensitise the communities to halt the spread of this pandemic.

In his remarks, the Director General of NACA, Prof. John Idoko, expressed indebtedness and special thanks to the NLC for its willingness to join in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

He explained that one of the benefits of providing the NLC Mobile VCCT is a huge progress towards enhancing the efforts to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

Idoko who expressed joy in partnering with NLC, said that NACA is one of the non-visible foot soldiers of NLC.

According to him, testing is the beginning of the fight against the epidemic, because HIV/AIDS is a pathfinder, leading many other diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, high blood pressure and diabetes.

The NACA boss said that for the country to have a virile and healthy work force,  NACA must partner with NLC and also enhance community uptake of HIV/AIDS through the state Labour Congress.

The meeting was rounded with testing of some voluntary participants including the President of NLC who re-emphasized the call on all Nigeria workers to be tested and assured the workers of confidentiality of their status.


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