Comprehensive HIV&AIDS Workplace Programmes

The impact of HIV/AIDS on national economies is severe: AIDS increases periods of employee sick leave, raises human resources costs, deprives companies of skilled, experienced employees and makes investment unprofitable. The loss of skilled workers and managers today threatens the capacity of nations to deliver essential goods and services tomorrow.

The workplace is an ideal setting to respond to HIV/AIDS. It reaches those at risk, is conductive to prevention messages and other interventions - especially care, and provides conditions for measuring their impact and effectiveness.

The TGPSH will support this response and help to make it as effective as possible:

• An advocacy strategy making it possible to mobilize the networks and contacts of local governments, employers, workers and civil society organizations;
• Set-up of professional "workplace support teams" in the regions;
• Linking existing service providers with companies to support their AIDS control activities
• Direct access to the workplace, where action can be taken for prevention, care and support;
• Supporting community strategies of companies to strengthen and extend sustainable prevention, care and treatment programmes for employees and their communities.

GTZ has been continually developing comprehensive workplace programmes since 2000.

More information can be obtained from  www.gtz.de/aids-at-the-workplace