Milla Group school Kissy community on HIV and Aids

HIV and Aids has claimed many lives in the country and many more people are being infected with the disease, with a staggering figure of 1.5% of the population infected with the disease, youths are becoming enthusiastic to discuss the issue of HIV and Aids and stigmatisation within communities.   (Photo: R-one of the stakeholders making a point about HIV and Aids prevalence in the country )

So as a responsible company Milla Group Sierra Leone Limited has organised a one day HIV/Aids sensitisation, for staff of the company and members of the Fisher lane Community at the Door Christian Church Conference Hall, by Ferry Junction East of Freetown.

The Company is widely branded as the ‘House of Plastics’ manufacturing quality plastic products like Water Tanks, PVC Pipes and household wares sold in many shops across the country.

The General Manager of Milla Group Sony Ramakrishnan in an interview with our reporter said the company wants to give back to the community in the area of health so as to demonstrate love and care for the community because Health is Wealth.

 He said the company has in the past supported many other community development projects within the Fisher Lane and Kissy Community.

The General Manager of Milla Group Sony Ramakrishna said the company also intends to offer scholarships to brilliant school children in deprived homes within the community the company operates in the future.

General Manager of Milla Group Sony Ramkrihsnan encouraged the public to be tested and called on those affected by the disease to regularly take their treatment and stressed the need for faithfulness to partners to avoid the spread of HIV and Aids.

The objective of the HIV and Aids awareness raising programme he said is to complement the government efforts in preventing the spread of the disease among the populace, so as part of their fulfilment to corporate social responsibility Milla Group decided to help.

The coordinator of the sensitization a Consultant from Ecosys Sierra Limited Ibrahim Lansana said the issue of HIV and Aids is a national concern and encouraged participants to pass on the message to others in their respective communities.

Charles Desmond Kamara the Chairman of the Ceremony while giving a brief back ground of HIV and Aids said the disease has spread around the world through sexual intercourse due to unsafe sex and medical practices which caused the disease to spread in Africa.

He said we are fighting the disease through education so as to save lives as it has affected individuals economically and socially.

The Coordinator of Milla Group Sierra Leone Alhaji Ibrahim Kamara said HIV and Aids is a pandemic that has caused the death of many children, youths, adults and the aged and encouraged the participants to make good use of knowledge learnt at the workshop and also urged them to spread the message.

A Representative of the National HIV and Aids Secretariat Lamin Sesay recalled how his friend was killed by Aids but stated that at present there have been tremendous efforts by scientist in providing drugs and treatment centres.

He said the current statistics for HIV and Aids prevalence across the country indicates that 1.5 of the population are HIV and Aids infected and majority of them are taking treatment.

He also explained that HIV and Aids is currently common among married men and women and especially youths and cautioned that protection against HIV and Aids is essential and encouraged participants to take their test so as to know their status

A Representative of the UMC Hospital Dr. Thorpe properly explained about the signs and symptoms of HIV and Aids to participants and encouraged them to always protect against the disease as there are several types of HIV and Aids.

Dr. Thorpe also said the most common means of getting the disease is through sexual intercourse, mother to child and through infected to an uninfected.

He also spoke about the current trend of anal sex practice among men and women that also causes HIV and Aids infection and warned against such practice.

A representative of the Honourable of the constituency expressed profound thanks and appreciation to Milla Group for sensitizing the public about protection and care for HIV and Aids in communities where the company operates.

Many of the youths and adults that attended the workshop were worried about HIV and Aids but after the sensitization they all seemed willing to help in the prevention, spread and treatment of HIV and Aids in their respective communities.

Saidu Bah

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