@HIV testing at UNC project in Lilongwe Malawi @poster
@HIV testing at UNC project in Lilongwe Malawi @poster
TRANSFER PROJECT PROPOSAL
Title: HIV TESTING AT WORKPLACE (HIV/AIDS WORKPLACE POLICY)
Author: E.Msowoya
Background Information
The University of North Carolina Project -Malawi (UNC Project) is collaboration between the University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill and the Malawi Ministry of Health. It is based on the Campus of Kamuzu Central Hospital in Malawi�s Capital, Lilongwe. The mission of UNC Project-Malawi is to identify innovative, culturally acceptable, and affordable methods to improve the health of the people of Malawi, through research, health systems strengthening, prevention, training and care. See below.
Research
Clinical Care
Training
� Cancer pathogenesis, epidemiology, treatment
� HIV treatment and prevention
� HIV vaccine development
� Injury prevention
� Malaria vaccine development
� STI management
� TB diagnostics � Adult medicine
� Antenatal care
� HIV counselling and testing
� HIV/AIDS treatment
� Internal medicine
� Paediatrics
� STI management
� Surgery � Adult medicine
� Epidemiology
� Lab science
� Medical geography
� Nursing
� Nutrition
� Paediatrics
� Surgery
(www.med.unc.edu)
UNC Project is a nongovernmental organisation doing biomedical research in the areas of HIV and AIDS and reproductive health. Apart from research the institution also provides support in offering routine care & services to STI clients and those attending ART clinic. Of late UNC Project has ventured in providing specialised care to cancer patients where among other things patients are given chemotherapy along with ongoing counselling and support together with family members on home based care during scheduled home visits.
Situation or Problem description
UNC Project is a big organisation which has around 400 staff members working for the project. Despite its involvement in HIV/AIDS issues of late it has been noticed that a number of staff members are dying before starting ARVS due to lack of disclosure of their status (about 3%). The employees are not open enough to declare their sero-status so that they get necessary and timely help come out and say they are HIV positive and they need help.
We have all the required drugs and a very good laboratory plus specialists on issues of HIV/AIDS. I do not think it is proper for staff members to die while they have everything available and me in particular as a nurse and counsellor who can provide care and support. We have a lot of doctors, enough supply of drugs, counselling rooms plus enough counsellors who can help in improving the situation if employees can be open enough.
THE HIV WORKPLACE POLICY DOCUMENT
It was in the year 2004 when the organisation set up a team to come up with an HIV work place policy document. The team (including myself) managed to come up with a draft document. Thereafter the document was supposed to be reviewed by the management for final input before implementation but then it died a natural death. Fortunately, the management thought about the importance of having the policy in place and another team has been chosen to work on the previous document to make sure all is well in order to prevent preventable deaths at workplace and improve conditions so as to suite those that are affected for them to be open enough in case of any problems faced.
As we all know that HIV/AIDS threatens productivity, profitability and the welfare of employees and their families. Workplace HIV/AIDS policies and programmes can play a vital role in raising awareness around HIV, preventing HIV infection and caring for people living with HIV.
According to UNC testing records it has shown that almost 90% that come for testing are outsiders and only 5% are workers. (UNC testing records)
HIV and AIDS are affecting the fundamental rights at the workplace, particularly with respect to discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. The illness and subsequent deaths of workers resulting from HIV and AIDS, has an enormous impact on the national productivity and earning. Labour productivity drops, the benefits of education are lost, and resources that would have been used for wealth creation and poverty reduction are diverted to treatment, care and support. This causes savings to decline and loss of human capital affecting production and quality of life.
Main objective
� To promote HIV testing at the workplace.
Specific Objective
� To create an environment free from stigma and discrimination at the work place by 2013.
� To increase the utilization of HIV/AIDS facilities at the workplace by employees by February 2013.
� To improve working conditions for HIV and AIDS employees at the workplace by 2014
Intervention Strategy
Implementing HIV staff testing at workplace may really improve the situation at hand. On the activity to implement workplace policy shall include finalising on the already existing document and organising meetings with the management on how to implement the policy. Currently we have testing rooms at our work place but more often it is people from other places who come for testing since it is an open clinic to everyone.
IMPLEMENTATION
According to (www.westerncape.gov) implementation of HIV/AIDS workplace policy shall help to define an organisation�s position on HIV/AIDS and sets out clear guidelines on how HIV/AIDS will be managed within the workplace, shall align the workplace response to the broader legal framework, ensure fairness, identifies and protects employers and employees� rights and responsibilities in the context of HIV/AIDS, sets standards of behaviour expected of all employers and employees�, establishes consistency within the organisation, sets the standard for communication about HIV/AIDS, provides a good foundation upon which to build an HIV/AIDS workplace programme, informs employees about the available assistance, indicates commitment to dealing with HIV/AIDS and lastly ensures consistency with national and international practices.
Target group
HIV/AIDS workplace policy shall target UNC employees as well as employers to benefit from the workplace policy in utilising the available services to reduce death rate from HIV/AIDS.
Evaluation
Monitoring and evaluation of the programme will be done to determine its effectiveness. This will help in making changes to the program. The Log book will be used to enter data for employees tested at workplace. At the end of each month shall be able to determine whether the strategy has worked or not.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
By the end of January 2013 I should expect Implementation of workplace policy within the Organisation.
By the end of six months
� Employees should be used to get used to HIV testing at workplace clinic.
� Working conditions should be improved to suite both HIV positive as well as negative ones in accessing all the required services for care, treatment and referral.
� Death rate should be lowered death rate for employees from 3% to 1%
� There should be reduced Stigma and discrimination
� There should be increased disclosure of HIV status and early initiation of ART.
� Shall expect to achieve 85% of the expected outcome since most of the services are already available and it will just be a matter of implementing and utilising
Conclusion
Implementing this strategy shall eventually help the UNC Project since there will be reduced unnecessary deaths within the organization thereby reducing costs incurred during such deaths. The members of staff shall also benefit through treatment, care and support at the same time the policy will improve the working conditions. This shall save more Malawians and shall promote health.
Recommendation
Recognition of HIV/AIDS as a workplace issue because it threatens productivity, profitability and the welfare of employees and their families. Promotion of equality and non-discrimination between individuals with HIV infections and those without, and between HIV/AIDS and other comparable health/medical conditions, creation of a supportive environment so that employees living with HIV are able to continue working under normal conditions in their current employment for as long as they are medically fit to do so and finally recognition that HIV is preventable and that the workplace needs to promote effective prevention efforts through testing at workplace.
Budget Shall need some funds for implementation of my proposal( Tentative)
ITEM AMOUNT IN US $ (US DOLLAR)
1. Employer/employees representative meeting with 20 staff members@ $ 20/ person( Allowances) for 5days $ 2,000
Refreshments 2crates @ $5/crate x5days $50.00
2. 2Rims of papers @ $ 6/ rim $ 12
5. 2 Blank CD-ROM @ $2.5/ CD $ 5
6. 1 box of blank pens @ $3 $ 3
7. 20 Ring binder folders @ $5/ file $ 100
8. Total $ 2,170
Contingency $ 217
Total Budget $ 2,387.00
8. TIMELINE/ WORKPLAN
ACTIVITIES 2012 2013
Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July
1 Development of Transfer project. X X X
2 Review and finalization of the TP X X
3 Briefing of employees on HIV/AIDS workplace policy issues X X X X X
4 Briefing of employees on the importance of HIV testing and testing at workplace X X X X X X X
5 Conduct supportive supervision and clinical mentoring X X X X X X
6 Monitoring and evaluation of the project. X X X X X X X X X X X
7 Compilation and submission of reports: X X
Reference:
