By Kennedy Aniedozie
The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) and the State Ministry of Environment have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen Healthy Workplace Compliance and promote safer, healthier and more productive work environments across the state.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Clem Aguiyi, said collaboration between environmental and public health authorities would help strengthen standards and promote healthier environments for workers and the public.
He said bringing together the expertise of both agencies would improve compliance and contribute to better public health outcomes.
The Executive Director and Project Manager of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, described the MOU as a significant milestone in the State Government’s efforts to promote healthy and productive work environments across Anambra.
Dr. Okeke said the partnership would integrate health interventions with environmental compliance, bringing disease prevention, health education, screening, early detection and appropriate referral services closer to workers.
He explained that the Healthy Workplace Compliance initiative would progressively cover eating joints and food vendors within markets, standalone restaurants and bukas, abattoirs and slaughter slabs, hotels, barbing salons, spas, hairdressing salons and other establishments across the state.
According to him, the collaboration would strengthen health education and screening for conditions including HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis, while ensuring appropriate referrals for workers who require further care.
Dr. Okeke commended the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, for providing the leadership and enabling environment for initiatives aimed at improving the health, safety and productivity of workers across the state.
He also appreciated the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Clem Aguiyi, the management and staff of the Ministry of Environment, as well as the ANSACA team, for their commitment to the partnership.
The MOU marks another step in ANSACA’s efforts to take HIV prevention, testing, health education and integrated screening services closer to workers, while supporting the State Government’s vision of a healthier and more productive Anambra.
Kennedy Aniedozie is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
