ANSACA Extends Integrated HIV, Health Screening Services to Naira Rice Workplace
By Chizoba Njaka
The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has intensified its workplace health intervention by taking integrated HIV prevention, testing and other essential health services to Naira Rice.
The outreach, held on September 18, 2026, was part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to bring HIV-related services and preventive healthcare closer to workers and communities across Anambra State.
Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, said the initiative was in line with the commitment of the Anambra State Government, led by Gov. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, to strengthen HIV awareness, prevention, testing and access to care.
Okeke said a healthy workforce was essential to productivity, urging workers to take advantage of available health services, know their HIV status and seek medical care early when necessary.
The workers benefited from free HIV counselling and testing, tuberculosis screening, hepatitis B and C screening, malaria screening, vital-sign checks and health education.
She explained that individuals who test positive for HIV would be confidentially linked to appropriate treatment and supported to remain in care, while those who test negative would receive information on HIV prevention and other protective measures.
According to her, ANSACA’s workplace intervention goes beyond HIV testing by integrating other preventive health services and taking them directly to workplaces and communities. She added that organisations that meet the agency’s required standards could be recognised with an ANSACA Certificate of Compliance for a Healthy Workplace.
The Chief Executive Officer of Naira Rice and Founder of Naira Group, Omenwa Arenze Benjamin, commended Gov. Soludo and ANSACA for bringing accessible healthcare services to the workplace.
Benjamin described healthcare as an important foundation for productivity and economic development, stressing that a livable and prosperous Anambra required sustainable, affordable and accessible healthcare.
He also praised Dr. Okeke and ANSACA for extending HIV services beyond conventional healthcare facilities and pledged Naira Rice’s continued support for health awareness and community engagement.
Okeke further urged business owners, industries, hotels, restaurants, bars and corporate organisations across the state to partner with ANSACA in promoting healthy workplaces, HIV prevention, early testing and linkage to care.
The Naira Rice outreach followed a similar intervention at Chiben Leisure Hotel, Awka, as ANSACA continues to expand workplace and community-based health services in pursuit of the goal of achieving Zero New HIV Infections in Anambra State by 2030.
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