The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi has said that the Authority is fully committed to the improvement of the health care of its entire workforce.
Mallam Abdullahi made this assertion on Monday while flagging off the awareness programme against cervical cancer, targeted at screening, vaccination and treatment for female employees of the Authority.
Represented at the flag off event which took place at the Corporate Headquarters, Marina, Lagos by the General Manager, Administration, Chief Michael Ajayi, the Managing Director commended the Medical department for its commitment towards embarking on awareness campaigns on various health issues aimed at enhancing health potentials of workers.
While giving an assurance that the Authority will continue to give the Medical Department all the necessary support it requires to function optimally, he appealed to all employees to avail themselves of opportunities provided by the exercise by listening and effective participation.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Assistant General Manager Medical, Dr. Chinwe Abama, had listed the benefits of the awareness programme to include: improved knowledge, decrease in manpower/man-hour loss due to death or absenteeism, decrease in medical bills and enhancement of productive and efficient workforce.
Dr. Abama disclosed that her Department has successfully executed awareness campaigns and screening on HIV (AIDS) and Hepatitis B, adding that the screening for Diabetes will soon come up.
In a brief lecture on the scourge, Prof. Rose Anorlu, a consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), said the cause of cervical cancer is known and therefore can be prevented and cured if detected early through screening.
She commended the Authority on its initiative on awareness campaign and screening, adding the Nigerian Ports Authority as a pioneer should spread the message to other government agencies.
Present at the occasion were the General Manager, Western Ports, Miss Adenike Sonaike and other top Management Staff of the Authority.