Gauteng Department of Education Employment Awareness and Wellness Programme (EAWP) is currently training wellness champions to handle disclosure and give continuous support to those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS in the workplace. This programme is an initiative to provide employees with “confidentiality,” the duty to treat and the duty to ensure a safe workplace. The workplace is an excellent place to support employees and their families on how to prevent the infection and live with HIV.
According to Johannes Motau, EAP Coordinator, support mechanisms in the department include referrals, counselling, care and support. This initiative ensures that at the school level there is at least one wellness champion per school. This person becomes the focal point and the link between the school and the EAWP. The individual becomes equipped for conducting seminars on HIV and AIDS. This training programme is an ongoing programme which started in April 2009 and is targeting 11 percent of 72 000 Gauteng Department of Education employees.
“The most difficult situation to handle in the wellness is that of handling of HIV disclosure, forum members have to be equipped with skills of how to handle the information and the emotions thereof, and also the legal implications since HIV is still a non-communicable disease. Disclosure of other person’s HIV status without that person's consent is a serious violation of a person’s human rights,” said Brenda Maitse, of EAP.
“Privacy and confidentiality about HIV and AIDS will continue to be a key issue, which needs sensitive handling from all concerned. The department’s guideline mentions that no employer shall terminate the employment of an employee on the grounds of that employee’s HIV status alone. It continues to say no employee shall be prejudiced in relation to promotion, transfer, or other employee development projects,” said Nkosana Mnisi, the Gauteng Department of Education HIV and AIDS project coordinator.
Mnisi concluded by adding that the HIV status of the employee shall not affect his/her eligilibility for any occupational or other benefit schemes provided for employees.
Issued by: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government
2 December 2009
Source: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.education.gpg.gov.za/)
