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HIV/AIDS PROGRAMME

29 September 2009

HIV/AIDS PROGRAMME

BACKGROUND

In July 2005, Consolidated Power Projects (CONCO) engaged the services of Calibre Clinical Consultants CC to implement and manage their HIV/AIDS programme.  Calibre is an independent corporation whose aim is to assist the private sector and South African employees in the various aspects of managing HIV infection.  The focus of the programme is to ensure all employees have access to current effective medical care, psycho-social support and ongoing HIV/AIDS education.

MOTIVATION

CONCO made the decision to implement this programme as part of our ongoing investment in our most important asset, our staff.  CONCO is aware of the massive task that faces our Health Ministry in its attempt to reduce and manage HIV infection.  It is with this in mind that we decided to play a proactive role in society and ensure that all our staff is well educated in matters pertaining to HIV and AIDS.  Furthermore, through this programme, our staff are able to access medication, psycho-social support and counseling 24 hours a day, fully funded by CONCO.

Due to the sensitivity of the issue of HIV/AIDS and the need for confidentiality at all times, CONCO engaged Calibre to manage the programme independently.  In this way we have ensured that the rights of our staff are protected at all times.

THE PROGRAMME

The 5th CONCO HIV/AIDS day was held on 28 September 2009.  The programme comprised of four education sessions, held in Sotho, English and Zulu.  We elected to educate our staff in their home languages as far as possible in order to ensure maximum understanding of the topics being covered.  The sessions included a Question and Answer portion to ensure that all concerns were addressed.  In the course of the day 233 members of staff received an in-depth education on:

• HIV & AIDS World Statistics
• What is HIV/AIDS
• How the disease affects people
• The risks of infection
• How the disease is not transmitted
• The progression of the disease
• The immune system and its functioning
• Symptoms of HIV infection
• The window period
• Reasons why people should test
• How HIV can be treated and managed
• The HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing Process
• The HIV Disease Management Programme
• Post Exposure Prophylaxis and 24 hour call centre

THE BENEFITS

The CONCO HIV Disease Management Programme is FULLY funded by the company and offers the following services to each and every member of staff:

• Free HIV/AIDS Education on a 6 monthly basis
• Free testing and counseling on a 6 monthly basis
• As required blood testing and pathology services for the monitoring of CD4 cell count and viral load at the discretion of the managing doctor
• A 24 hour call center for advice, information and counseling in the language of choice
• Post Exposure Prophylaxis available to the staff member and his/her dependents
• Immune modulators and Anti-Retroviral Drugs