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"AIDS fight goes to offices"
The
Star (www.thestar.com.my)
(27/08/05)
Focus to be on education and ‘no-discrimination’
code
THE battle against AIDS is to be taken to the workplace.
A national call went out to businesses on Thursday to form an alliance with
the Health Ministry, to prevent the disease from spreading, and to remove
the fear and stigma attached to AIDS.
Companies can do so in two ways: introducing a programme to educate their
workers about the disease, and a “code of practice” that does not
discriminate against HIV-positive staff members.
This was suggested by Senior Minister of State for Health Balaji Sadasivan
as he sought private-sector help to contain what he fears could become an
AIDS epidemic.
Singapore had an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people with AIDS, according to the
World Health Organisation, but only 2,500 had been diagnosed, he said, in a
talk organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore.
A record 311 new infections were reported last year.
“Singapore is a global city and an international travel hub. We have to be
prepared for the onslaught of AIDS in Asia,” said Dr Balaji, in a speech
acknowledging that the lessons learnt from the SARS outbreak can be applied
to the AIDS battle.
They include the crucial need for accurate public communication and to
involve the whole community.
In the case of AIDS, it is even more urgent for companies to be involved
because almost 60% of those diagnosed with HIV last year were those between
30 and 49 in the prime of their working lives.
Dr Balaji believes that if companies can eliminate discrimination against
AIDS sufferers, more people will come forward to be tested.
He also urged companies to follow the example of Standard Chartered Bank, by
educating workers on how to deal with HIV-positive colleagues.
The bank has an “exemplary programme”, he added.
Its Living With HIV programme essentially has trained staff members, called
HIV champions, educating co-workers on the disease through questions,
visualisation and role-play.
Said its spokesman: “All our workers have to undergo the training.
“We found that education is a good way to deal with the issue of ignorance
because it is a lack of knowledge that leads to stigmatisation.”
Some worry that fellow workers and customers would not take kindly to AIDS
patients being in their midst, said its executive director Koh Juan Kiat.
This entrenched fear and stigma is the reason administrator Robert keeps mum
about being HIV positive.
Robert, who is in his 40s, said: “Your employer may accept you; but,
regularly, I hear my colleagues make snide remarks and unkind jokes about
people with AIDS.
“I live in constant fear that they will find out about me.” – The Straits
Times/ANN
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