Joint workshop informed of progress in HIV/AIDS fight

Source: Guyana Chronicle, 6th March 2008

THE Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, yesterday began a two-day workshop aimed mainly at developing a workplace policy, programme and campaign strategy to deal with persons affected by HIV/AIDS.

The joint exercise, designed to gather managers and supervisors of various companies at Hotel Tower in Georgetown, is themed ‘Lessening the impact of HIV/AIDS on the labour force’.

Speaking at the opening, General-Secretary, Mr. Grantley Culbard said CCWU is conscious of the problems confronting the nation regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

He said: “We should get more involved to help sensitise persons in society that people who contract the disease can still be very productive in the workplace.”

Culbard said a lot of commitment is needed in terms of prevention, understanding and support for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

President of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ms. Gillian Burton, challenged the participants to be advocates in the process of eradicating the HIV/IADS stigma.

General-Secretary of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Guyana (FITUG), Mr. Kenneth Joseph, who addressed the gathering, as well, pointed to the necessity to ensure that polices are created to prevent stigmatisation and enhance the knowledge and skills required for developing HIV/AIDS workplace policies.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) National AIDS Coordinator, Mr. Sean Wilson, pointed out that many workplaces have related policies but numerous workers are unaware of them and the components.

He encouraged participants at the forum to become proactive in the process and make sure they use the opportunity to share knowledge with staff.

Wilson suggested the development of corresponding HIV/AIDS educational programmes to stabilise and even alleviate the current situation.

Partnership Manager of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Mr. Derrick Cummings, explained that the USAID/Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction Programme (GHARP) is a joint undertaking being implemented by a consortium of four international organisations.

He said, following the development of its first annual strategy and work plan in early 2005, the Private Sector Partnership Programme (PSPP) evolved into a robust coalition of Private Sector organisations that are actively engaged in helping USAID/GHARP achieve its goals of preventing and reducing HIV/AIDS in Guyana.

According to Cummings, a strategy and work programme to reach persons during their most productive life (between 18 to 49 years of age) and, coincidently, their most at risk period within the workplace, was developed and approved by USAID/GHARP on April 1, 2005, with objectives including building public/private partnerships as a critical component to the expansion and innovation of the HIV/AIDS response and engaging the Private Sector in activities that will help USAID/GHARP attain its overall goals.

He reiterated that the USAID/GHARP public/private sector partnership programme was designed to promote an investment in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, as an asset in protecting human resources and, by extension, encouraging productivity and efficiency within the business community.

Cummings disclosed that USAID/GHARP has generated some 43 Private Sector initiatives to link its products and services via workplace schemes crafted to encourage more sustainable ways of protecting the workforce and community from HIV/AIDS.

He said, apart from forging partnerships which open doors for workplace undertakings, partners have come together to form the Private Sector Advisory Board, which is soon to be transformed into Guyana Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS.

Cummings also announced that a coordinating committee and three work groups, focusing on workshop programmes, private sector awards and membership sustainability, were established to implement the work programme of the Advisory Board and have been meeting on regular basis.

In addition, the Private Sector has responded to the Ministry of Health and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) HIV/AIDS events and special requests.

Coordinator of HIV/AIDS Community Mobilisation at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Mr. Nazim Hussain concurred that everyone must be involved in the fight against the pandemic and efforts to reduce stigmatisation.