BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

IN partnership with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, LSACA, UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and Friends Africa, Stanbic IBTC Bank has launched a mobile HIV counseling and testing campaign across Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ajeromi Ifelodun and Ibeju Lekki Local Government Areas of the state.

Tagged ‘Getting to Zero, the campaign is geared towards curtailing new HIV infections, discrimination against people living with the virus, and AIDS related deaths. It also availed residents of Lagos State the opportunity to know their HIV status, while vital information on preventive measures and encouraging healthy lifestyles was also disseminated.

Kayode Solola, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, noted at the flag-off that strategic health interventions will improve wellness and business performance, thereby boosting economic advancement and social development.

“We are supporting the Mobile HIV Counseling and Testing campaign because it aligns with Standard Bank Group’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) philosophy of promoting health, economic empowerment and education on a long-term and sustainable basis in Africa’, Solola said.

Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Head of Projects, LSACA said although a lot of progress has been made in the fight against the spread of the virus, there is need for increased private sector funding of advocacy and medical treatment programmes, to mitigate the expected funding shortfall from the economic crisis dogging G20 countries.