| Previously there was no HIV/AIDS
programme in the Corporation because its effect
was not felt. ESCOM operates a medical scheme
that covers all permanent employees and their
declared dependants. In the year 2000, we started
experiencing increased employee medical costs
and funeral expenses. The majority of junior staff
had exhausted their full annual medical entitlement
before the end of the financial year. This resulted
in further medical expenses incurred converted
to loan against the member. Funeral costs almost
doubled. Employees’ absenteeism due to sickness
and funeral attendance was on the increase. This
had adverse impact on productivity. A survey conducted
revealed that these high costs were related to
HIV/AIDS prevalence in the Corporation. Executive
Management therefore directed that HIV/AIDS workplace
programme be initiated in the corporation immediately
in order to mitigate its impact. |
In 2001 Business Plan Executive
Management committed initial funds for the implementation
of HIV/AIDS activities. It was decided to have a top
down approach in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS information
in the Corporation.
ESCOM approached Project Hope Malawi
in May 2001 for technical assistance on HIV/AIDS Workplace
Programme. Project Hope Malawi accepted the request
and briefed first Executive Management on HIV/AIDS
and the world of work. With technical assistance from
Project Hope, ESCOM developed its HIV/AIDS Policy,
which was put in place in August 2002. ESCOM HIV/AIDS
Policy aims at creating HIV/AIDS awareness, instituting
preventive measures, providing care and support and
removing stigma and discrimination against/amongst
employees on the basis of real or perceived HIV status.
From May 2002 to date ESCOM has trained 145 peer educators
who are conducting several workplace meetings, workshops
for their colleagues, organising open days to promote
HIV/AIDS awareness for employees and their families
at ESCOM stations throughout Malawi. At such meetings
and workshops subjects covered include the following:
- Some common Sexually Transmitted Infections
and their prevention
- HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention
- Relationship between Tuberculosis
and HIV/AIDS
- Family Planning
- Home Based Care (HBC)
- Behavioral Change interventions.
11 Peer Educators were trained by the
Malawi Business Coalition against HIV and AIDS (MBCA)
to become Trainers for Peer Educators. The purpose
of having internal trainers is to facilitate speedy
Peer Educators training process and reduce training
costs incurred by hiring external trainers.
The major challenges experienced in
coming up with the programmes include financial constraints,
which result in little allocation for HIV/AIDS workplace
programme, and employees resistance to behavioral
change. These challenges are however, overcome through
Executive Management support given to the programme
and the putting in place the HIV/AIDS Policy for ESCOM,
which provides guidelines for management and all employees
on non-discrimination of employees on the basis of
real or perceived HIV status.
a) To train more Peer Educators, Counselors,
and Home Based Care Providers.
b) To set centres for VCT within ESCOM workplaces.
c) To intensify programmes for employees behavioral
change.
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