Everald Warmington, minister of state in the Ministry of Water and Housing engages in a discussion with Faith Hamer, component head/policy advocacy National HIV/STI Programme at the official launch of the National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy, held at the Ministry of Water and Housing recently. The policy, which was approved by Parliament in 2005, enables employers to ask employees to volunteer their HIV/AIDS statuses. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

In a recent report from the United Nations Development AIDS programme, of the 27,000 Jamaicans living with HIV, it is estimated that 18,000 are unaware of their status.

In an attempt to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the island, a national HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy was recently launched.

Everald Warmington, minister of state in the Ministry of Water and Housing (MoWH), said the National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy would facilitate the country's development. He said it would also protect employers' productivity and employees' health.

At the ceremony held at the ministry's corporate offices, Warmington said "because HIV usually affects persons in their prime productive years, between ages 20-45, the impact on performance and productivity and an employer's bottom line may be profound."

National priority agenda

"HIV/AIDS is not just a health concern, it is a developmental issue which needs to be on the national priority agenda", he added.

Endorsed by the Ministry of Health, the policy enables companies to screen employees for the virus as a means of preventing the spread of the disease, in addition to providing the appropriate care and support for those who are HIV/AIDS positive.

Faith Hamer, component head on policy advocacy for the National HIV/STI programme, encouraged companies and individuals to develop and implement the policy, which promotes corporate wellness and a healthy lifestyle. In 2007, over 150 companies and eleven ministries and state bodies activated the National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy in varying stages.

Omar Azan, chief executive officer of Boss furniture has implemented the programme in his organisation, which has a labour force of 200 people. Azan, who is also the president of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association, told The Gleaner, the programme was imperative to sensitise the workforce to preventative measures and stabilise the disease.

"Through the workplace policy and training, if we can get this to as many people as possible through company mediums, it would be a good way of doing so, because you get to teach them about the disease and discrimination".

Partners in the private sector implementation of the policy, also includes the Jamaica Business Council on HIV/AIDS and the Jamaica Employers Federation, among others.

The Ministry of Water and Housing, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will be holding a series of sensitisation workshops next month and invites all stakeholders to participate.

December 4: Shaw Park Hotel, Ocho Rios

December 10: Medallion Hall Hotel, St Andrew

December 11: Medallion Hall Hotel, St Andrew

December 12: Jamaica Urban Transit Company, Portmore