Head, Community Service, Lagos Mainland, Kunle Balogun; Baale, Ilaje Community, Chief Oladipupo Arowoloju; Director, Entreprise Business, Airtel Nigeria, Tawa Bolarin; Agency Secretary, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Femi Agbesanwa and Head, Project, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Oladipupo Fisher at the Airtel/LSACA HIV/AIDS awareness outreach in Ilaje Community recently.
Indications are emerging that efforts for the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS epidemics are increasing in Nigeria, as there are now support for the outreach from telecommunication companies through their Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Airtel Nigeria is taking up the campaign among players in the industry. There are hopes that others will follow suit.
The telco was recently at the Ilaje community in Costain area of Lagos state (a sub-surb area) in partnership with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) to embark on a community-wide awareness campaign.
They went on the sensitization outreach with free testing and counselling opportunities. They as well as distributed medications and relief materials to members of the community.
During the outreach over 80 testers and counsellors were on hand to attend to the community, just as the turned out from the community was en masse to benefit from this awareness campaign which is aimed at preserving the lives of members of the community.
The residents were grateful and they gave Airtel commendations
Lanre Babalola, a resident of Ilaje community hailed the smartphone network for remembering his community. “I am very happy that Airtel is in our community today because it feels good to be giving service to a community that is less serviced.
Things like this rarely happen for us here and today Airtel has put a smile on our faces”.
Another resident Bishop Okoro said “I love Airtel because they have remembered little people like us who live in this area. We at Ilaje are usually forgotten but today a large corporate organisation like Airtel Nigeria has remembered us”.
Also speaking at the event, the Baale of Ilaje community, Chief Oladipupo Arowojolu noted that the community has a health challenge and Airtel in partnership with LSACA have come to their aid. Arowojolu said “Health is wealth and with this HIV/AIDS awareness we are given a chance at a better and healthier life. With Airtel’s help, Ilaje and Otubara community will pursue good health in order to preserve the lives of members of our community”.
As a reputable corporate organisation, Airtel Nigeria is committed to improving the lives of Nigerians by creating a better, healthier and more prosperous society, where everyone will be treated equally as well as respected irrespective of their status, social class and location.
