Posted by By Onyebuchi Ezigbo on
Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekeibo yesterday described members of his constituency, the transport industry as people with the greatest risk of the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country.
Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekeibo yesterday described members of his constituency, the transport industry as people with the greatest risk of the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country.
Speaking at the One-Day sensitization seminar for workers under the Ministry, yesterday in Abuja, the Minister said since most of the transportation business entails movement of operators from one place to another, they faces exposure to all kinds of risks including indiscriminate making of friends and acquaintances.
"Statistics have shown that transport workers are veritable sources of the HIV/AIDS spread", he said.
He told the staff of the Transport Ministry that as the personnel at the apex body over-looking the affairs and activities in the industry, the need to show example and be in the vanguard for the fight against the spread of the disease is very paramount.
He advised the staff to pay adequate attention to all that would be discussed at the seminar so as to be equipped with necessary information to assist in the propagation of the campaign against the scourge of HIV/AIDS.
Earlier, the Minister of State in the Ministry, Mohammed Inuwa Musa while welcoming the participants said that from the 2003 sentinel survey, more than 3.5 million Nigerians are living with HIV infection.
He said that the Federal Government in recognition of the dangers posed by this epidemic has adopted a multi-sectoral approach in the fight against the disease.