The Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tamsir Mbowe, on 30 November 2006 launched “Total Gambia Aids Awareness” campaign at Total petrol station in Kololi.

Dr Mbowe commended Total Gambia Ltd for launching such a laudable initiative in all their work places, noting that HIV/AIDS and its related problems are worsening in the world and “is a cause of concern”.

He said that in The Gambia the rates have been relatively and comparatively low, but there would be no complacency.

“ HIV has dropped for the first time since 2000 from 2.1% in 2004 to 1.1% in 2005, while HIV 2 has declined from 0.8% to 0.6%,” noted the Secretary of State for Health.

The launching of the Total Gambia Limited Aids Awareness campaign is therefore in line with the government strategy to involve all stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, he said, adding that Total Gambia Limited’s efforts in implementing the awareness campaign initiative would complement interventions by various agencies.

The Managing Director of Total Gambia Ltd, for his part, said their policy which encourages voluntary counseling and testing demonstrates the company’s commitment to provide medical cover to all its staff infected as well as to maintain the policy of no discrimination.

The company pledges its support to the community of people living with Aids and condemns all forms of discrimination and prejudice against them.