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Although the HIV/AIDS Policy was effected
in August 2002, activities related to HIV/AIDS education
had been initiated earlier in the year. Project Hope
Malawi was called upon to facilitate a one day workshop
for Senior Managers in February 2002. The aim of the
workshop was to orient managers to HIV/AIDS, its impact
in Malawi and the work place in particular and how
as managers they could act to prevent further impact
of HIV/AIDS in the Corporation. This was followed
by workshops for middle managers, supervisors, workers
union and the rest of staff.
ESCOM participated in the National Recognition
Event for HIV/AIDS in the workplace held at COMESA
Hall, Blantyre on 9 August 2002. The event was organised
by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational training
in partnership with Project Hope Malawi. ESCOM was
one of the organisations that were awarded Recognition
Certificate for Leadership and Commitment in implementing
HIV/AIDS activities in the workplace.
ESCOM has organised several Regional
and National Awareness Open Days in order to promote
HIV/AIDS awareness to employees and their families,
as well as its stakeholders. Our partners Project
Hope Malawi, Malawi Aids Counselling and Resource
Organisation (MACRO), Banja La Mtsogolo, Word Alive,
Blantyre City Assembly and others were invited to
attend the functions.
ESCOM was one of the seven companies
selected to form a task force namely Private Sector
Working Group, which was responsible for creation
of Malawi Business Coalition against AIDS (MBCA).
The MBCA objective is to assist the private sector
to increase involvement in HIV/AIDS matters. ESCOM
is a member of the technical committee for the MBCA.
ESCOM commitment to prevention is further
demonstrated through the institutionalised activities
that include but not limited to:
- Education by health care providers
on HIV/AIDS to all patients that attend ESCOM clinics.
- Intensified treatment of opportunistic
infections at the Corporation’s health clinic.
- Free distribution of condoms to
employees by the health care providers and peer
educators.
- Dissemination of HIV/AIDS education
messages through the use of the newsletter that
ensures that over 2400 employees and their families
are reached with HIV/AIDS messages and sometimes
through the use of employees payslips. Comic Booklets
on HIV/AIDS are produced quarterly and distributed
to employees free of charge.
- Incorporation of HIV/AIDS education
in the training courses for employees.
- Promotion of Voluntary Counselling
and Testing (VCT) by health care providers and peer
educators. This is paying off as following the introduction
of ARVs in July 2003 many employees have gone for
voluntary testing for HIV. ESCOM is currently providing
Antiretroviral drugs to employees including their
declared dependants, who have disclosed having tested
positive for HIV, through the medical scheme.
ESCOM has also taken its corporate
responsibility in the wake of HIV/AIDS very seriously.
To this effect, ESCOM has sometimes included HIV/AIDS
messages on the bills of the consumers, in so doing
reaching over 130,000 consumers with a message on
HIV and AIDS. During school holidays youth are mobilised
to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS through Drama,
choir and dances.
- HIV/AIDS Policy is in place.
- Employees awareness of the
dangers of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
and AIDS has increased resulting in high patronage
of ESCOM clinics for treatment of STIs and opportunistic
infections.
- Intensive promotion of HIV/AIDS
awareness has assisted to remove employees discrimination
and stigmatisation in the workplace.
- Employees’ response
to voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is overwhelming.
- Introduction of ARVs has improved
the health of employees who having been tested positive
for HIV had no hope for survival.
- ESCOM has own PLWHA who act
as Role Models.
- Employees knowledge on condom
use as a means of protecting oneself against contracting
HIV virus has tremendously increased.
- A workplace Steering Committee
composed of 10 members from different management
levels and sections of the Corporation is in place.
- Nutrition support program
initiated.
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