in this issue...

At a time when HIV is still spreading steadily across the globe, we are also witnessing progress in controlling this deadly disease. Responses to the AIDS epidemic have grown and improved considerably over the last few years. The objective of this E-bulletin is to circulate AIDS-related news, publications, literature and research to affiliated unions and others working in this field. It is a part of our new Global HIV/AIDS project, which is targeting ITF affiliates all over the globe. Get involved! For further information and queries please contact Dr. Syed Asif Altaf, Global HIV/AIDS Project Coordinator, Altaf_Asif@itf.org.uk or the Regional Education Coordinator in your ITF region, ITF Education Department: education@itf.org.uk .

This issue of the E-bulletin looks at the joint statement of commitment on HIV/AIDS of the central trade unions in India; a report from Nepal on a HIV awareness programme for high risk groups. The issue will also focus on HIV/AIDS activities implemented by the ITF affiliates in Morocco.

Signing of joint statement of commitment on HIV/AIDS of the central trade unions in India

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in India is at a critical stage with the total number of positive people estimated around 3 million and the number of new cases increasing in some states. As the country experiences rapid growth, HIV/AIDS remains a serious threat. According to a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India, the world's second fastest growing major economy after China, has been recording growth between 7 and 8 per cent annually for the past few years. In the absence of remedial policy action, the potential costs to the economy from the HIV epidemic 'could be quite high,' said the report titled 'The Macroeconomic and Sectoral Impacts of HIV and AIDS in India. Economic growth could decline by 0.86 percentage points over the period and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.55 percentage points, as higher health spending eats into investment and workers fall sick.  

Responding successfully to the HIV epidemic requires action from the widest possible range of participants. The workplace – and the workplace partners, employers and trade unions – is a key entry point for prevention, care and support, as well as the protection of rights. The vast majority of the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are engaged in productive activity. HIV/AIDS is a trade union issue because it affects the health, livelihoods and rights of working people and the networks and resources of the labour movement can be a powerful force in supporting national responses.
 
In collaboration with ILO and National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), all the central trade unions in India recently came together to a sign joint statement of commitment on HIV/AIDS. They commit themselves to the following:

• They will encourage workers and their representatives to consult and collaborate with their employers on the development and implementation of an appropriate policy for their workplace, designed to prevent the spread of the infection and protect all workers from discrimination related to HIV/AIDS;
  
  
• They will set up internal committees on HIV/AIDS at the central and state levels to review/monitor the implementation of workplace policy and programmes;
  
  
• They will endeavour to negotiate with employers, inclusion of HIV/AIDS polices in human resources development programmes at workplaces;
  
  
• Using the existing union structure, they will provide information on HIV/AIDS in the workplace to workers; they will undertake training of the focal persons and peer educators on HIV/AIDS from the unions wherever possible with the help of ILO and other agencies.
  
  
• They will attempt as much as possible to initiate prevention interventions to cover workers in the informal/unorganised sector;
  
  
• They will seek and explore opportunities from various government and international agencies to initiate interventions and develop joint action programmes to cover the working population all over the country. This will be done as part of the overall national framework on HIV/AIDS Control Programme coordinated by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO); and
  
  
• They will build partnerships with the national and international HIV-related agencies including NACO, State AIDS Control Societies(SACS) and other partner agencies, the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE), the State Labour departments, Employers, UN agencies, Networks of People living with HIV/AIDS and other fellow comrades to share resources and experiences in fighting HIV/AIDS. 
  

The joint Statement was signed by the Mr. Gurudas Das Gupta, General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress, Mr. Girish Awasthi, President of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Dr. M. K. Pandey President of Center of Indian Trade Union who is also the vice president of our affiliate Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), Dr. G. Sanjeeva Reddy, President of Indian National Trade Union Congress who is also the president of our affiliate INTWF and Mr. Umraomal Purohit, General Secretary of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, the former president of the ITF.

UNHCR launches HIV/AIDS awareness campaign among high-risk groups in Nepal

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with funding support from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development has recently launched a six-month HIV/AIDS awareness campaign among high-risk groups like commercial sex workers and injecting drug users  in six districts of Nepal. The campaign will include HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness activities for high risk groups in the country. The activities will be implemented by local NGOs: General Welfare Pratisthan, Knight Chess Club and Maiti Nepal. UNHCR is also launching a condom promotion programme as a part of HIV prevention and awareness activities in 15 districts in different parts of the country.

Union des Syndicates UMT des Transports in Morocco organised a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) session for port workers in Casablanca

Although the Middle East and North Africa region accounts for a very small proportion of HIV/AIDS positives around the world - roughly 1 percent – like all other regions in the world, the number of HIV positive people is increasing with adult and children living with HIV has increased from 0.4 million to o.46 million in just two years time. 

According to the UNAIDS, the total number of HIV positive people in Morocco is  19 000 [12 000 – 38 0000]. Although the figure shows that prevalence is very low, a number of factors have put the country at risk of getting more infections.  Factors include the high level of STIs among the general population. While the official declared figure is 214,000 new cases of STIs each year, the actual figure may be closer to 600,000 cases. This discrepancy is attributable to, among other things, under-reporting and use of traditional treatments and self-medication. Other factors include trends in sex work and migration, both rural-urban within Morocco and to other neighbouring countries.

After the ITF Arab regional HIV workshop in Casablanca, Morocco in May 2007, the ITF affiliates in the region have started showing more commitment to start HIV/AIDS awareness and support programmes in their workplaces. Recently Moroccan Union des Syndicates UMT des Transports organised a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) session for the port workers in Casablanca. They have also negotiated with the employers to ensure all types of care and support including antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for any member who is HIV positive.  They have also a developed partnership with a leading national NGO Association de Lutte Contre le Sida (ALCS) to a organise HIV awareness campaign for World AIDS Day, 2007.