First call as Dame Patience Jonathan answers a call at the NACA HIV AIDS call centre flanked by key officials.
ABUJA,
Thursday, April 26, 2012: As she commissioned the National
Call Centre on HIV/AIDS and Related Diseases of the National Agency for Control
of AIDS, First Lady Patience Jonathan said the growth of telephony in Nigeria
provides a strong platform for increasing information dissemination on health
challenges such as HIV/AIDS. She
commended Airtel Networks Limited for its lead role in providing toll free
lines for subscribers to call the Centre and access information on HIV/AIDS.
Dame Dr Jonathan, accompanied by the wife of the
Vice President, Hajiya Amina Sambo and the First Ladies of Rivers and Bayelsa
States, among others, observed that the growth of subscriber base of telecoms
firms in Nigeria provides a strong platform for using telephony to drive health
awareness. She stated: “I believe that
the establishment of this National Call Centre will go a long way in
strengthening our national response to HIV/AIDS, as is the case in other
countries of the world, such as South Africa, the Philipines and India, who
have used help lines and Call Centres successfully in the fight against the
HIV/AIDS pandemic. “
Airtel Nigeria is supporting the National Call
Centre with toll free lines. The Centre is commencing with 30 agents ready to
provide information, guidance and counselling to callers. All calls on a
dedicated Airtel line 6222 are free.
:
Subscribers
on the Airtel network will henceforth receive regular information on HIV/AIDS
and other healthcare issues courtesy of a partnership between Airtel Nigeria
and the National Agency for Control of AIDS Nigeria.
Airtel subscribers
can also call the toll free line 6222 at the NACA HIV AIDS Call Centre to get
information, advice and guidance on matters relating to HIV/AIDS.
Airtel Chief
Executive Officer Mr. Rajan Swaroop made the commitment Thursday, 26 April 2012
at the formal commissioning of the NACA National Call Contact Centre in Abuja.
Airtel is providing the backbone for the NACA National Contact Call Centre. Mr.
Femi Oyewole, Regional Director, North of Airtel, represented Swaroop.
Recalling that the
Airtel partnership with NACA began in 2005, the Airtel Chief Executive
affirmed, “As far as this partnership is concerned, we are totally committed to
ensuring the success of the National Call Contact Centre. It is our role to
ensure effective public enlightenment and education through firm commitment in
scaling up existing efforts and concrete partnerships that will help millions
of Nigerians access better information and referrals to service provision in
healthcare delivery.
“At Airtel, we will
also work with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS to send short messages
concerning the deadly scourge to our subscribers nationwide.”
Swaroop lamented the
sentinel survey 2011 results that show higher prevalence of HIV in some rural
areas compared with urban areas. He called for more effort by telecoms firms to
enhance the fight against the scourge by enabling provision of information to
citizens particularly in rural areas. “I would like to use this medium to call
on other GSM operators to dedicate toll free lines for their subscribers to
experience the opportunity provided by NACA”, Mr. Swaroop stated.
The First Lady, Dame
Patience Jonathan, commended Airtel for collaborating with NACA to deliver the
HIV/AIDS Call Centre saying that the Call Centre represents an important
milestone in the national response to the HIV/AIDS challenge in Nigeria. “I
acknowledge with pleasure the collaboration between NACA and key
telecommunication players in this highly strategic project. It is a clear
expression of corporate social responsibility in the true spirit of Public
Private Partnership.”
-ENDS-
For me it is a great idea that they out a call center for health reason and that was a excellent thing i ever read.
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