The role of labour in responding to HIV/AIDS in the workplace

Aug 03, 2011 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
Our Global Partners must be able to deliver opportunities for decent work in a sustainable environment. This decent work can only be created by combining employment, rights, social protection and social dialogue into a wider framework of a global development strategy.
We must use this integration process to advance collective approach to sustainable development, the expansion of employment, the reduction of stigma and discrimination in the workplace, the improvement of living standards, the reduction of unfairness and the opening of a real opportunity to the ordinary Caribbean workers to enjoy sustainable livelihoods in a condition of human dignity.
Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union in Guyana, through the Ministry of Health under Guyana HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project, a World Bank grant funds initiatives offered support to orphans, the public sector and NGOs in 2006 – 2010.
CCWU being affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has created innovative networking with its affiliates round the world.
A number of programmes addressing HIV prevention, treatment and care, are supported through the US President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and administered by USAID through in-country implementing partners. Initiatives include the launching of a public/private sector partnership Advisory Committee through education and training and the funding of point out proposed by local and international NGOs.
HIV/AIDS has been identified as one of five priority programmes (HIV/AIDS/STI) in the Guyana National HIV/AIDS strategy 2007 – 2011. A National Policy document on HIV/AIDS was laid down in Parliament in 1998. The Ministry of Health has overall responsibility for implementation of the strategic plans and programmes that have been developed and posted through the National AIDS Programme Secretariat. Technical help is provided through Health Management Committee.
The objectives of the Guyana Global Fund Project include:
• Strengthening of institutional capacity to effectively coordinate the multi – sectoral response through implementation of the Three Ones Principles (One Coordinating Body, One National Strategy and One National Monitoring and Evaluation plan).
• Strengthening of human capacity to effectively coordinate and manage the mulit-sectoral response.
• Strengthening the regional capacity to implement and manage HIV/AIDS interventions.
•Decrease misconceptions and discriminatory behaviours and increase knowledge and access to prevention services.
• Reduce sexual transmission of HIV infection with a focus on most at – risk populations and their partners through delayed sexual appearance reduced partner change and number, increase condom use.
• Ensure universal access to prevention of mother – to – child transmission services.
• Reduce the risk for transmission in medical settings.
• Reducing the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS on children and increase protection for OVCs.
• Ensure universal access to counseling and testing services.
• Ensure universal access to quality diagnostic, care and treatment and support in an enabling environment for all persons infected with HIV/AIDS, including access to ARVs and quality home based care services.
• Expand comprehensive care for opportunistic infections, especially with greater links with links with the TB control and monitoring.
• Design and implement training programmes for HIV/AIDS treatment care and support for services providers.
• Ensure continued access to ARVs and other treatments supplied through improved procurement and commodities management.
• Strengthening of the HIV/AIDS surveillance system and the national health information system.
• Ensure one national system for monitoring and evaluating the response to HIV/AIDS.
• Improve strategic information on HIV/AIDS by strengthening local capacity and identifying priority studies and surveys.
In this respect, we must launch a Global Partnership for HIV/AIDS in the workplace. It is necessary to mobilize financial and human resources in support of Global initiatives to train unskilled and informal workers and achieve quality education and training for all.
CCM’s have to play a crucial role in coordinating proposals for development and ensuring that Global Fund priorities related Global initiatives are carefully considered at level and integrated into new proposals.
CCMs also have an important role in overseeing grant implementation and ensuring that current or future interventions help the Global Fund’s investments to reach those most in need.
Stigma and discrimination reduction programmes featuring an order of empowerment of people living with the diseases, accurate education, and interaction between people living with the diseases and key audiences, particularly for HIV and tuberculosis which are highly stigmatized need to be pursued.
Born HIV Free Campaign:
On 19th May 2010, the Global Fund’s launched the Born HIV Free Campaign for the protection of women and children against AIDS.
Trade Unionists need to show More Commitment to Response HIV/AIDS: They need to show more good reflection of their commitment and dedication of Global Union Federation (GUF) affiliates to the response against HIV/AIDS and to protect workers and their families against the killer disease wherever they located. Winston Churchill said “Let us go forward together”.
Sherwood Clarke

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