THE International Transport Federation (ITF) yesterday started a four-day workshop for affiliated union leaders on the fight against HIV/AIDS in workplaces.

Guyana Labour Union (GLU) is hosting the programme which is part of a global project in countries where the pandemic is most prevalent, such as Africa and the Caribbean, with the aim of creating awareness worldwide.

Those participating in the international forum are from 12 unions in nine Caribbean countries and Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, speaking at the opening, said the main purpose is to persuade participants to be advocates in the campaign against HIV/AIDS.

“You are mostly trade unionists and, therefore, I know you are professional advocates, tough, unrelenting, informed and would not give up until your voices are heard.

“The things I ask you to advocate can make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS and make our world better. This advocacy can break the back of the HIV pandemic,” he told the gathering.

The minister said HIV was formally diagnosed in Guyana in 1987 and this country has made significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and now has a programme that is comprehensive and has received international recognition.

Most importantly, it has begun to reverse the epidemic, Ramsammy said.

He announced that Guyana has developed a very comprehensive and model care programme and persons living with HIV/AIDS are able to receive state-of-the-art treatment and other support here at no cost.

Ramsammy compared what is available today to 2001 when there was nothing and persons living with the disease simply had to endure the agony of impending death.

According to him, today more than 2,000 Guyanese are on anti-retroviral medication and more than 4,000 people living with HIV are being treated and managed because they have not yet reached the stage to use such medicine.

Ramsammy said efforts to develop workplace schemes are expanding and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has worked with unions and the Ministry of Labour to ensure growing awareness and aggressive programmes at those places.

He said, with the assistance of PEPFAR, ILO, the Ministries of Health and Labour, more than 50 companies have organised workplace programmes.

Ramsammy reiterated that Guyana and the rest of the world must let prevention be the hallmark in any successful fight against the disease and said this country has made impressive advances in terms of spreading knowledge and awareness of HIV, although still too many persons lack the information needed or the ability to use it to stop HIV.

GLU, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Clerical Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the National Association of Clerical, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NACCIE) have been variously active in educating and making their members and workers’ families more aware and educated about HIV/AIDS, Ramsammy reported.

“We believe that the trade unions must become significant partners in the fight against HIV. The trade unions must be an important partner in providing information and influencing behaviour among our people. The unions must also be strong advocates for services and must ensure that stigma and discrimination as by-products of HIV are effectively reduced and eliminated,” he urged.

“No person ought to be subjected to HIV testing as a requirement for employment or to maintain employment,” Ramsammy stated.

He said all workplaces should make sure that every worker has information about HIV/AIDS and promote the ‘Know your Status’ campaign.

Meanwhile, Ramsammy said, with the recent greater display of generosity by the developed countries, led by the United States, it is hoped that the acceleration pace in the vaccine and microbicide research would lead to their quick introduction in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

He encouraged persons to make good use of the tools that are accessible now, one of which is circumcision.

Ramsammy said the latter is a public health tool that is cost effective and life saving, as scientific studies have shown the impressive reduction of HIV among men who have been circumcised.

“Trade unions must promote this public health tool. We must ensure that our workers have facts and, for those who would have children, they ought to know that circumcision of the male child is a successful public health tool and reduces the risk that male adults have in their reproductive life,” the minister said.

ITF Regional Education Coordinator, Mr. Gabriel Rodriguez said, at the conclusion of the four days, it is expected that those who took part would return to their workplaces and share the information and policies.