Enlightening the future generation

About 1.9 million people are living with HIV according to the Nigeria HIV/aids indicator and impact survey (NAIIS) report published in March 2019. The disparity in HIV prevalence between male and female was greatest among young adults, with prevalence amongst ages between 20 and 24 years being more than thrice the rate of prevalence in males of the same age bracket. Thus, to commemorate world aids day, we focused more on girls and student who are approaching the above age bracket.

Total and its OML 130 partners run an initiative to commemorate the 2019 World Aids Day in line with the theme for the year Communities Make the Difference. Through the initiative, they create awareness about HIV and AIDS, educate students on the scourge and make plans to prevent new infections.

In the past five years, the initiative has reached 18 schools and educated 4,717 people directly and over 6,000 indirectly, about preventive measures against HIV/AIDS and in event of infection, how to live a full and active life while managing the disease.

The 2019 World Aids Day campaign which held at Ajigbeda Girls Senior Secondary School in Lagos State had students from Gbaja Girls Senior High School, Ideal Girls Senior High School, Ansar-ud-Deen Senior high school, and Government senior college all in attendance from Surulere Local Government Area of the state.

The campaign featured interactive sessions on setting life goals, drama, sexuality and assertive skills and was attended by representatives from Lagos State Ministry of Health, National petroleum investment Management services (NAPIMS), Lagos State AIDS control Agency, Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA), and other partner organizations.

Walking Against AIDS

Total Nigeria is a member of the Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS NIBUCCA, a coalition of leading businesses committed to the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic at various levels of society. Every year, Total advocates and invests in projects aimed at minimizing the spread of HIV/AIDS. December 1st every year is set aside to celebrate World AIDS Day and remind us of the HIV epidemic. Since its discovery, approximately 75 million people have been infected and 32million of those have lost their lives to the disease.

Total commemorated World AIDS Day in 2019 with other members of NiBUCCA with a walk in solidarity with people living with the virus. The walk, which was in line with the global theme: Communities Make the Difference emphasized the role communities play in the response to HIV/AIDS. This was a demonstration of Total’s collective resolve as a business and corporate citizen of Nigeria to confront and end this epidemic that is destroying lives, families and businesses. HIV testing centres were also set up to run free testing so that people can know their status.

Partnering to Support Communities Fight HIV/AIDS

The 90-90-90 target to help end the HIV/AIDS epidemic implies that by 2020, 90% of Nigerians living with HIV should know their status, 90 of people who know their HIV status should be accessing treatment, and 90% of people living with the virus will have suppressed loads. Between 2010 and 2018, Nigeria experienced a 26% decrease in the number of AIDS-related deaths. However, the number of new infections increased by 8.3%, from 120,000 to 130,000, within the same period. This increase in new infections and the gap between the current state in Nigeria and the target 90-90-90 motivates us to continue our efforts in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria.

Total fights against HIV/AIDS to protect communities, employees, families, partner organisations and society at large from the infection. In the last 13 years, Total E&P Nigeria Limited and its partners have been educating Nigerians on HIV preventive measures and raising awareness of HIV/AIDS management. So far, the Total HIV/AIDS Preventive Awareness Project has been held in 22 states across Nigeria, educating 69 peer educators.

In 2019, the project was executed in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state. Like other years, the project sensitized people in different communities in the state on preventive measures to protect them from contracting the disease and also to encourage voluntary tests. Some major highlights of the event include training of peer educators, drama and dance.