AIDS workers to target work places

September 20, 2009 11:39:31 AM

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Volunteers from the Fiji Red Cross Society are poised to embark on a programme aimed at preventing HIV and AIDS in the workforce.

Red Cross Health & Care Assistant Sevuloni Ratu said such programmes and support to those affected by HIV/AIDS is severely lacking throughout Fiji.

He said the programme will be delivered at no cost to employers.

Fiji’s Ministry of Health recorded 303 HIV/AIDS cases by June this year.

The Ministry admits that the actual figures are expected to be much higher because of under-reporting.

Majority of those affected are in the most productive segment of the labour force, which is between the ages of 19 and 49 years.

“Based on the increasing number of people infected with HIV it is important that wide scope of coverage is given to this subject and by educating more workplaces on the impacts of this epidemic it is expected  that sensitisation will bring about greater awareness and behaviour change,” said Ratu.

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