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Action
in Africa on HIV/AIDS
17.10.2003
Removing denial and the stigma still attached to those infected with
HIV/AIDS are an important part of a trade union action plan to tackle the
disease in Africa.
It’s an action plan that includes promoting the rights at work of those
with HIV/AIDS, stepping up education for members and campaigning for
low-cost, live-saving drugs.
Pholokgolo Ramothwala
Joyce Nonde, Zambia,
chairs the HIV/AIDS debate |
"HIV is just a disease and I am a living example of it,"
Pholokgolo Ramothwala, from the Treatment Action Campaign group, told
delegates.
Pholokgolo has been living with HIV for five years and he told the 87
unions from 38 African countries attending the UNI-Africa Regional
Conference in Johannesburg that there are 30 million people in southern
Africa living with HIV.
"To make sure Africa moves forward we have to include HIV/AIDS in our
discussions, ensure awareness and prevent it spreading further," he
said.
"Stigma is the one thing as Africans we have not yet
overcome."
"We are still gripped with fears and I hope most of us will be
encouraged by your speech and change their attitudes towards HIV,"
said Joyce Nonde, of ZUFIAW Zambia, who chaired the debate.
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"Trade unions need to be more involved in this fight - they need to
launch new initiatives to fight this disease at work and to fight for the
rights of workers who are (HIV) positive," said Madelaine Ouedraogo,
UNI-Africa Women’s President.
The action plan focuses on those most at risk of the disease - 15-24
year-olds who represent half of all HIV infections, women and migrant
workers.
The issue of violence against women also needs to be tackled, said Madeleine.
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Madeleine Ouedraogo,
UNI-Africa Women's President
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"Violence and sexual abuse increases the vulnerability of women in
the face of HIV/AIDS. There is no possibility for women in Africa to
discuss sexuality, there is polygamy and there is physical violence which
affects women,"
A number of speakers highlighted HIV/AIDS as a development issue and not
just a health issue.
Famine and governments spending more money servicing debt than on their
citizens’ health are just two of the issues in Africa identified by a
UNI-Africa background paper for the debate.
"This is a global human catastrophe - an economic, political and
social catastrophe," said Shaun Oelschig, of SASBO South Africa.
"SASBO has decided that HIV/AIDS is very much a trade union issue –
it’s not just a government issue."
His union has been pressing finance employers to introduce policies that
de-stigmatise the disease and protect its sufferers from discrimination at
work.
Education for members and union reps is also underway and support is being
given to havens and homes for those children orphaned by the disease.
"No matter where you work or live you need to know about
HIV/AIDS," said Rajendra Jebodh of POASA Mauritius.
Those who are infected face discrimination at work both from employers and
co-workers. "Workers with HIV/AIDS need emotional and practical
support from their unions."
Protecting these rights is no different from helping other ill members, he
told delegates.
"It’s important that unions protect their access to medicines and
are able to continue working as long as they can."
Bernadette Simana, from NAFINU Namibia, called for African cultural values
in the battle against HIV/AIDS - "but cultural values that support
respect for women and the value of young people, that promote knowledge
and dialogue, that build on community and trade union solidarity and
mutual support".
She reported that a number of churches in Africa had - in the face of the
disease - relaxed their opposition to the use of condoms.
"HIV is going to wreak havoc at the workplace," said Ezron
Nabyana of SATAWU South Africa.
In South Africa about one in nine people are HIV positive and in
sub-Saharan Africa generally the workforce may be cut by around 30% by the
disease by 2020, he said.
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