Handicap Int., NAS draft HIV/AIDS workplace policy

Handicap International in collaboration with the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS) has commenced a four-day deliberation to draft a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS .at the Grassroots for Gender Empowerment secretariat at John Street in Freetown.
The formulation of the draft policy at the workplace on HIV/AIDS attracted staff from Handicap International working in remote parts of the country and officials from the HIV/AIDS secretariat, the ministry of Labour and the Association of HIV/AIDS Positives in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the official opening of the four-day workshop the human resource technician for Handicap International, Esther Sesay gave an overview of the activities of Handicap International in the country.  She also spoke about the work place policy framework on HIV/AIDS.
Madam Sesay added that the workplace policy could not be drafted without the input of her staff as HIV/AIDS awareness was essential for the prevention and control of the disease.
She encouraged participants of the workshop to share ideas and design a policy that would be reflective of their views and comments for the implementation of a workplace policy on HIV/ AIDS at her organisation.
Abubaker Koroma of the National AIDS Secretariat properly explained about the basic facts on HIV/AIDS, preventions and control for office procedures. He noted that they were currently working with other partners to formulate a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS. He intimated that the policy would give employees an equal opportunity at the workplace to both victims and non victims of the disease and avoid discrimination of others because of their status.
Mohamed Kai Sandy, a facilitator at the workshop from (NAS), spoke about the situation analysis of HIV/AIDS in the country with its demographic and health overview, adding that 48,000 people were currently living with the virus in Sierra Leone.
Mr Sandy also explained about the contributing factors of HIV/AIDS and the monitoring and evaluation methods of (NAS) and the available pediatric treatment protocol that were implemented by NAS since it was enacted into bill by parliament.