Departmental Heads to develop HIV/AIDS workplace policy

Obuasi, Sept 1, GNA - Heads of Departments have been urged to develop HIV/AIDS work place policy to help protect their workers against the disease.

The policy, which should be developed in line with the national policy framework, should also protect the already infected worker against stigmatization and discrimination.

Miss Cecilia Mawutorwu, President of Adansi HIV/AIDS Advocacy Network (ADHAN), said this at a workshop on HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy for Departmental Heads from Obuasi, Adansi North and South at Obuasi at the weekend.

She said it was important for departmental heads to appreciate the issue of HIV/AIDS especially in the event of a worker contracting the disease.

Miss Mawutorwu said ADHAN was currently targeting the workplace HIV/AIDS policy which aims to help minimize the spread of the disease. She appealed to the departmental heads not to rush into offering employment to new ones to replace HIV/AIDS victims, stressing that, "it is a collective responsibility to help rehabilitate such people to make them live healthy and longer".

Mr Robert Abana, Field Officer of ADHAN, told the Ghana News Agency after the workshop that the Network had started visiting the various departments in Obuasi, Adansi North and South to assess their progress on the HIV/AIDS national workplace policy. He explained that ADHAN was formed out of five Community-based Organisations (CBOs) in the three districts with the aim of assisting to minimize the spread of the disease in those areas. He said it was also to address the stigmatization and discrimination against those living with AIDS. 1 Sept. 08