JMA Online News
Private sector groups recognized for contribution to HIV/STI advocacy
Written by: Jamaica Observer
Date: 2009-07-31
FOUR private sector groups were on Tuesday recognised for their contribution to HIV/AIDS advocacy in the workplace.
The Jamaica Business Council on HIV/AIDS, the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA), the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF) were all presented with plaques by the Ministry of Health-run National HIV/STI Programme (NHP) and the National Aids Committee at a ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.
The groups partnered with the NHP, facilitating the participation of 171 of its members in the programme up to last December - well above the Global Fund target of 90 organisations by June 2009.
Tuesday, Brenda Cuthbert, chief executive officer of the JEF, said the organisations' role was pivotal in getting their members to develop and implement HIV workplace policies, to protect and respect the rights of employees living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Experts have long argued that HIV/AIDS has the potential to destroy human capital.
"Current statistics show that 90 per cent of all persons reported with AIDS in Jamaica are between the ages of 20 and 60 years and 65 per cent between 20 and 44. This age group represents the age range of the Jamaican labour force (NHP, 2008)," said Cuthbert. "HIV therefore has the potential to profoundly impact the supply of labour, the quality of human capital, productivity and in turn the national economy. If left unchecked, HIV and AIDS have the potential to decimate our country's most important resource-our human capital."
As at June 2009, 145 of the 171 organisations had created their own version of an HIV/AIDS workplace policy. Each policy has a one-year implementation programme plan. The collaborator's target should reach 200 companies by March 2010 with each of the organisations managing 50 entities. Funds from the Global Fund grant is designated to hire four workplace programme officers up to 2012, who will work with the private sector companies through the four umbrella organisations.
Of the four organisations that received awards Tuesday, the JEF reached the most companies - 60 so far, 43 of which have already developed workplace policies. The process involves the sensitisation of teams, peer education, and train-the-trainer strategies. These workplace policies and programmes are based on the National HIV/AIDS Policy that was approved by Parliament in 2005 and they refer to the Draft National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy created by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in 2003 to guide implementation.
Cuthbert said she is committed to the reduction of HIV-related stigma and discrimination and implores other organisations to get involved.
"As we continue our efforts to get more private sector companies on board we hope that in the near future there will be one strong, consolidated and centralised private sector voice on HIV... for those who have not yet done so, we encourage you to get on board," said Cuthbert.
Sponsored in part by the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPSCo).