HIV/AIDS POLICY

 

HIV/AIDS POLICY OF THE SINETHEMBA COMMUNITY CARE CENTER

1.    Our position

Sinethemba acknowledges the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa and its significant impact on the workplace and organisation.

We share the understanding that HIV/AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening disease with social, economic and human rights implications that can impact on employees and the organisation. We acknowledge that present medical opinion indicates there is no known risk of AIDS transmission through casual or close contact that occurs during normal work activities.

The virus is fragile and has been found to be transmitted only through the intimate exchange of body fluid such as blood or blood contaminated tissues fluids such as semen or vaginal fluid.

 

Our commitment

HIV testing is not a pre-requisite for employment and testing will not be conducted by Sinethemba Community Care Center.

No employee is compelled to disclose their HIV/AIDS status. Any person to whom information has been disclosed, even voluntarily, is legally required to keep this information confidential. No person will be compelled to undergo HIV/AIDS test. Any staff undergoing voluntary testing should ensure suitable pre- and post counselling.

Medical assistance will be provided for employees with HIV in accordance with the rules of the medical aid scheme and the individual's level of membership. An employee with HIV/AIDS is expected to meet the same performance requirements that apply to other staff. Any changes to work conditions or arrangements will be considered and treated as with any other employee with a disability.

Should an employee no longer be able to continue to work due to ill health, the pension fund rules governing retirement due to ill health or disability will apply as appropriate. 

Sinethemba Community Care Center will follow the process of medical research on HIV/AIDS infection, and this document will be reviewed accordingly should there be any significant developments.

Protection against discrimination on the basis of HIV/AIDS

No employee, either with, or perceived to have HIV/AIDS, maybe unfairly discriminated against and must be treated in a fair, just and humane manner. Sinethemba Community Care Center recognises the sensitive issues that surround HIV/AIDS and undertakes to handle matters in a discreet and private manner. Where an employee with HIV has revealed his/her status to management, the NGO will keep the identity such a person confidential.

AIDS education/awareness

Appropriate awareness and education programmes will be conducted to inform employees about HIV and AIDS which will enable them to protect themselves and others against infection by HIV. Some of these will include the families of employees and the local community.

Sinethemba Community Care Center recognises the importance of involving employees and their representatives in the planning and implementation of awareness, education and counselling programmes, especially as peer educators and counsellors.

Practical measures to support behaviour change and risk management will include the treatment of sexually transmitted infections STIs and TB and the distribution of male and female condoms.

Training shall be arranged for key staff  including health officers, peer educators and personnel officers.

Health and Safety

The risk of HIV infection in the workplace is managed through the following means:

Procedures to reduce the risk to staff and clients following injuries involving blood and potential exposure to blood borne pathogens.

Ensuring designated staff have suitable first-aid skills and understand the necessary precautions.

Ensuring emergency care and treatments for persons following HIV exposure during their normal duties.