Global HIV/AIDS project E-bulletin

USAFERI, the first ever network of HIV positive transport workers has recently received its registration as a CBO (Community based Organisation) from the Kenya Ministry of Gender, children and social development.

Formation of USAFERI was first conceptualised during the storytelling program that the ITF and the Narativ initiated in Mombasa, Kenya sometime back to empower transport workers, to speak out openly about the virus and the disease and be ready to take action on their own behalves, consciously altering structures of inequality, subordination and isolation. USEFERI wants to work with everyone and wants to be united by a common purpose: proper treatment and care for those infected and prevention of further HIV transmission.

USAFERI has started as a network of HIV positive transport workers from all transport modes but the network plans to extend its membership to all workers from all sectors in Kenya and beyond. USAFERI plans to have its first election of its board in June 2012.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) an estimated 910, 000 lives were saved globally in six years due to guidelines intended to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS are protected from tuberculosis. This was said recently during the releasing an updated policy on joint prevention, diagnosis and treatment of both diseases.

TB is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV/AIDS, which weakens the immune system, making those infected much more susceptible to tuberculosis infection. Since WHO proposed the initial guidance on collaboration between TB and HIV activities in 2004, the number of people living with HIV screened for TB increased from nearly 200,000 in 2005 to over 2.3 million people in 2010.

Testing for HIV among TB patients surged from 470,000 to over 2.2 million between 2005 and 2010. “This [new] framework is the international standard for the prevention, care and treatment of TB and HIV patients to reduce deaths; and we have strong evidence that it works,” said Mario Raviglione, the WHO Director of the Stop TB Department. “Now is the time to build on these actions and break the chain that links TB and HIV with death for so many people.” “We must address TB as we manage HIV,” said Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of WHO’s HIV/AIDS Department.

 “We have shown over the last five years what can be done. To continue the progress and save more lives, comprehensive HIV services must include the Three I’s for HIV/TB strategy – isoniazid preventive therapy, intensified screening and infection control for TB – and it should also include earlier treatment for HIV for those that are eligible.”

 The main elements of the new policy include:

·        routine HIV testing for TB patients, people with symptoms of TB, and their partners or family members;

·        provision of co-trimoxazole, a cost-effective medicine to prevent against lung or other infections for all TB patients who are infected with HIV;

·        starting all TB patients with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible (and within the first 2 weeks of starting anti-TB treatment) regardless of immune system measurements;

·        and evidence-based methods to prevent the acquisition of HIV for TB patients, their families and communities.

WHO recommends that those services be provided in an integrated manner,at the same time and place. More than 100 countries are now testing more than half of their TB patients for HIV. Progress has been especially noteworthy in Africa where the number of countries testing more than half their TB patients for HIV rose from five in 2005 to 31 in 2010. However, the number of patients co-infected with TB and HIV who are on ART rose gradually from 36 per cent to 46 per cent over the five-year period. (Source: WHO)

Trade unions call on Qatar-based Al Jazeera to reinstate HIV positive journalist. A South African journalist who moved to Qatar after starting a job with Al Jazeera was tested for HIV without his knowledge, dismissed and deported from the country when the results came back positive. The International Trade Union Confederation will be using this case to highlight employment related discrimination on grounds of HIV status (real or perceived) and the need to protect migrant workers’ rights.

Follow the link to the ITUC press release on the ITUC letter to Al Jazeera:http://www.ituc-csi.org/al-jazeera-journalist-sacked-and.html

MR, a South African citizen and an employee of Al-Jazeera, was unknowingly tested for HIV, immediately detained in the Doha prison and subsequently dismissed and deported solely on the basis of his HIV status.

His case illustrates egregious non-compliance with international human rights standards, including the recently adopted ILO HIV and AIDS Recommendation no. 200, which prohibit discrimination on basis of HIV status. But it is not an isolated example. In many countries there is still a massive gap in legal protections for people living with HIV, marginalization and criminalization of groups at risk, dismissals and exclusion from social protection schemes. Often there is no prohibition on forced medical testing, no safe-guards in place to ensure informed consent of workers who are being tested for HIV, no measures to ensure reasonable accommodation, no continued care and support services so that workers can continue their employment and provide for themselves and their families.

The situation worsens in case of migrant workers, who in countries like Qatar have no labour rights, wages are exploitative and occupational health and safety risks are extreme.

In February SECTION 27, a renown human rights organization from South Africa that represents MR, together with COSATU and FEDUSA, affiliates of the ITUC, held a picket at the Al-Jazeera office in Johannesburg to call on Al-Jazeera to end discrimination on the grounds of HIV status.http://www.ituc-csi.org/demonstration-at-the-al-jazeera.html http://www.ituc-csi.org/fedusa-to-picket-against-hiv-aids.html

“Our organisation could not believe that a South African journalist was dismissed, detained and deported from Qatar simply on the grounds of his HIV positive status,” said FEDUSA General Secretary, Dennis George.

ITUC supported these efforts by simultaneously writing to the Emir of Qatar and addressing Qatari embassies in Brussels and Geneva with an urge to act responsibly and to protect human rights.Letter to the Emir of Qatar:

http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/12.01.25_ituc_letter_hivaids_qatar_mol.pdf

In the case of MR his detention and deportation was taking place due to the national laws but was fully facilitated by the employer. MR was also immediately dismissed, even though the nature of his job allows to perform duties from outside of Qatar, even in presence of discriminatory deportation laws. “This man has done nothing wrong, and is being victimised by the Qatar government just because he is HIV-positive. Al Jazeera, an international broadcaster, could still employ him based in South Africa in the same job, and we call on them to act with decency and compassion,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

Following new findings from recently published epidemiological studies, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a technical consultation regarding hormonal contraception and HIV acquisition, progression and transmission. It was recognized that this issue was likely to be of particular concern in countries where women have a high lifetime risk of acquiring HIV, where hormonal contraceptives (especially progestogen-only injectable methods) constitute a large proportion of all modern methods used and where maternal mortality rates remain high. The meeting was held in Geneva between 31 January and 1 February 2012, and involved 75 individuals representing a wide range of stakeholders. Specifically, the group considered whether the guideline Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use, Fourth edition 2009 (MEC) should be changed in light of the accumulating evidence.

After detailed, prolonged deliberation, informed by systematic reviews of the available evidence and presentations on biological and animal data, GRADE profile summaries on the strength of the epidemiological evidence, and analysis of risks and benefits to country programmes, the group concluded that the World Health Organization should continue to recommend that there are no restrictions (MEC Category 1) on the use of any hormonal contraceptive method for women living with HIV or at high risk of HIV. However, the group recommended that a new clarification (under Category 1) be added to the MEC for women using progestogen-only injectable contraception at high risk of HIV as follows:

Some studies suggest that women using progestogen-only injectable contraception may be at increased risk of HIV acquisition, other studies do not show this association. A WHO expert group reviewed all the available evidence and agreed that the data were not sufficiently conclusive to change current guidance. However, because of the inconclusive nature of the body of evidence on possible increased risk of HIV acquisition, women using progestogen-only injectable contraception should be strongly advised to also always use condoms, male or female, and other HIV preventive measures. Expansion of contraceptive method mix and further research on the relationship between hormonal contraception and HIV infection is essential. These recommendations will be continually reviewed in light of new evidence.

The group further wished to draw the attention of policy-makers and programme managers to the potential seriousness of the issue and the complex balance of risks and benefits. The group noted the importance of hormonal contraceptives and of HIV prevention for public health and emphasized the need for individuals living with or at risk of HIV to also always use condoms, male or female, as hormonal contraceptives are not protective against HIV transmission or acquisition. (Source: WHO)

In 2010 the 99th International Labour Conference adopted by an overwhelming majority of votes the first ever internationally sanctioned legal instrument aimed at strengthening the contribution of the world of work to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. 

Trade unions, employers and governments were in agreement that in order to achieve universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, to save peoples’ lives and stop the HIV pandemic from posing an obstacle to the attainment of decent work and sustainable development, an increased cooperation at the national, regional and international levels is needed, in order to support efforts to give effect to this Recommendation and to ensure a meaningful monitoring of action taken at the national level. Therefore, Article 54 of the Recommendation recommends that in addition to the reporting under article 19 of the ILO Constitution, a regular review of action taken to implement the Recommendation at the national level could be included in national reports to UNAIDS and reports under relevant international instruments. UNAIDS is requesting UN Member States to report on national progress in the AIDS Response every two years. The current reports are due 31 March 2012.

Trade unions should take the lead in getting involved in national processes in order to advocate for inclusion of monitoring of progress in implementing the ILO HIV and AIDS Recommendation, as committed to by the governments in Paragraph 85 of the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. So we request you to get in touch with  National AIDS Committees (or their equivalents) with the request to be involved in the national level discussion, including invitation to the workshops and meetings at the national level organised in relation to the Country Progress monitoring, so as to be informed about  the plans of their governments for data collection and evaluation and to be given sufficient opportunity to review and comment on the Country Progress report before it is finalised and submitted. Please note that the country-level UNAIDS and regional-level ILOAIDS staff is available to assist with civil society input throughout the process.

A model letter outlining trade union position on the 2012 Country Progress reporting and requesting inclusion of trade union representatives in the national consultation process is available here:http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/no_02_-_2012_ungass_model_letter_fin.pdf

 ITUC is coordinating the whole process, so for any further information you can contact the ITUC Global HIV/AIDS Coordinator Zuzanna Muskat-Gorska, zuzanna.gorska@ituc-csi.org, please also give us a copy, education@itf.org.uk so that we are updated and informed..

The Confederation of Railway Workers of Bolivia, through their federations and unions has recently signed a HIV/AIDS policy with the respective companies, SA Eastern Railway and Andina SA. This policy is in compliance with current legislation and in recognition of the importance of the Law 3729 "Law for Prevention of HIV-AIDS, Human Rights Protection and Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Care for Persons Living with HIV-AIDS” and the ILO Recommendation 200 on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work. This policy highlighted the need of total confidentiality of personal data and will not allow discrimination or rejection against anyone living with HIV. The policy also covers the family of the workers. The union and management have jointly established a periodic reporting system to disseminate information on HIV / AIDS and the progress of policy and action plan.

Both the management and trade union federations will assess the effects of HIV / AIDS in the workplace and the needs of the workers including workers living with HIV. They will also coordinate with the National and Departmental Programs STI / HIV / AIDS of the Ministry of Health and Sports and other institutions that are part of the health system. According to the UNAIDS latest estimate, HIV prevalence rate in Bolivia is 0.2% and a total of 12,000 (9,000-16,000) is living with the virus.  

UNAIDS has conducted a 15-country survey* to understand the possible impact of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s recent decision to cancel its next funding round (Round 11). The survey looks at the impact of this decision on countries’ ability to scale up access to HIV and tuberculosis programmes.  The UNAIDS country offices, who participated in the survey, have expressed serious concerns about the potential disruption of HIV treatment and prevention services starting from 2014. Findings also point towards long-term challenges in meeting the 2015 AIDS targets adopted by world leaders at the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS in June, 2011.

Half of the respondents said the cancellation of Round 11 and proposed cuts in Phase 2 funding would be “catastrophic” for national AIDS responses. Countries may have to reprogramme existing funds and simultaneously identify new sources of funding to sustain and scale up HIV prevention and treatment programmes,” said Tim Martineau, UNAIDS Director of Programme Effectiveness and Country Support. “UNAIDS is working closely with countries and will further scale up its effort to identify the critical gaps and urgent steps needed to sustain national AIDS responses.”

 UNAIDS is supporting countries to undertake cost-effectiveness studies to enable the reprogramming of existing funds. UNAIDS is also helping countries to identify bottlenecks, funding and programmatic gaps between 2012 and 2015, and potential cost-saving interventions. Over the next year, UNAIDS will offer guidance to countries in revising their current investments in HIV. “In Cambodia, major studies are under way and partners are coordinating their efforts to identify where to best build efficiencies and use innovative approaches to maintain the momentum at less cost,” said Tony Lisle, UNAIDS Country Coordinator.

 In Zimbabwe, findings from a recent gap analysis showed that there are major problems with commodities and supply. The analysis also showed that the annual need for funding amounts to US$ 300 million; a decline in funding from the Global Fund would mean major setbacks in Zimbabwe’s response to the epidemic. Many of the respondents reported that while existing resources in the short term can meet the needs of people already on treatment, the momentum to add new people on life saving treatment would diminish. For example, Indonesia has scaled up HIV testing and counselling and has doubled the numbers of people on treatment over the last three years. However the country’s AIDS response is heavily dependent on funding from the Global Fund and a reduction in investments would severely decrease Indonesia’s ability to continue scaling up.

In Ukraine, the government agreed to co-financing the HIV treatment programmes together with Global Fund’s support—a significant step in increasing access. A policy shift to scale up harm reduction programmes implemented in collaboration with non-governmental organizations is now in danger of being derailed as crucial funds from Round 10 have not yet been made available. The HIV epidemic in Ukraine is primarily concentrated among injecting drug users. Just under 50% of the estimated 230,000-369,000 injecting drug users are estimated to be living with HIV. Timely funding is critical for Ukraine. There is a lot of positive political momentum and the international community must fulfil its part of the promise,” said Ani Shakarishvili, UNAIDS Country Coordinator in the Ukraine. “If the Global Fund resources do not come in time, harm reduction programmes will be in a crisis mode.”

Three quarters of the countries surveyed were relying on a new injection of funds from the Global Fund to either continue their HIV services or expand them. Many countries had already started preparation of Round 11 proposals. Country Coordination Mechanisms, the body responsible for overseeing Global Fund programme implementation in countries, had already identified their investment priorities—in many cases focusing essential programmes for sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users--populations at higher risk of HIV infection, and on stopping new infections among children and TB-HIV integration. “We are very concerned by the cancellation of Round 11 as it risks undermining the progress South Africa has achieved in preventing new HIV infections, particularly among children,” said Catherine Sozi, UNAIDS Country Coordinator in South Africa. “Reductions in funding for TB is also a major concern. Without any new funding for TB services, AIDS-related deaths could increase as fewer people living with HIV will be able to receive TB treatment.”  In South Africa, 40% of HIV related deaths are due to TB.

In addition, the change in funding in 2012-13 being limited to continuation of essential treatment services only, could result in reduced funding for civil society organizations, who often fail to get resources from governments. “Civil society organizations are the foundations and building blocks of the AIDS response. They must have access to resources for continuing their work on HIV treatment and prevention,” said Mr Martineau. At the Global Fund’s meeting in November, the Board decided to cancel Round 11.  In response, the Fund has set up a new transitional funding mechanism to ensure the continuation of HIV services that may face disruption over the next two years. The Global Fund is expected to publish further information on its website in mid-December. (Source: UNAIDS)

HIV is concentrated in the adult working population, unlike almost all other diseases, meaning that families lose their breadwinners, workplaces their workers, and economies their most productive members. This is the big picture – the ITF recognises that some regions, population groups and economic sectors are more affected than others. Transport is one of those sectors, and for this reason we have risen to the challenge of putting in place a programme to help protect the rights, health and livelihoods of our members in the face of HIV and AIDS.

Port workers are not mobile workers in the same way as many others represented by ITF and its affiliates, so are they facing the same risk of HIV? The range of responses in a variety of countries suggests that risk is real though it is clear that more research is needed. What is indisputable is that port workers come into daily contact with many mobile workers, from both maritime and road transport sectors (and railways in some countries). They also have to put up with some of the same working conditions, in particular dealing with delays and congestion due to growing demand, constraint capacity, slow documentation processes and so on. They may also have poor living conditions.

In order to improve our understanding of HIV/AIDS in the ports sector, with particular reference to the knowledge, awareness and needs of ITF affiliates, and to prepare appropriate responses, the ITF carried out two surveys in 2011 – one into the views of affiliated dock and port workers’ unions across the world and one into the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs (KAB) of individual workers in four affiliates, from Belgium, Guatemala, India and Kenya. According to the report HIV/AIDS is an issue of concern in the port sector, and that, as with other transport sectors, there is a need for behavioural change and for the gaps in awareness and knowledge identified to be addressed. At least some of the onus for these tasks falls on trade unions.

The survey and findings have been included in the report HIV/AIDS, Ports and Port Workers. This includes a brief overview of HIV/AIDS in ports and docks, followed by a report on the views, activities and needs of ITF-affiliated unions in relation to the epidemic; and then the summary findings of a knowledge, attitudes and behaviour survey conducted among the members of ITF affiliates in the ports of four countries. These were Belgium (Antwerp), Guatemala (Porto Santo Thomas), Kenya (Mombasa) and India (Chennai and Mumbai). The report closes with a set of recommendations for future action by the ITF and its affiliates.

ITF dockers’ section secretary Frank Leys said: “Some transport sectors have been much more badly hit than others by HIV/AIDS, but none is immune, and anyone who ignores that fact risks letting down all those who are affected. That’s why we began this research and why we will now dedicate ourselves to doing our best to put in place the practices that it identifies as being needed by those working in the world’s ports.”

The ITF has included rights-based activities on HIV and AIDS in its services for members since 1999. By 2006 major programmes were in place for road and rail workers, and a mapping exercise conducted the next year revealed needs in other sectors as well. In order to deepen understanding and plan more appropriately, the ITF decided to conduct surveys in the civil aviation and then the ports sectors, seeking the views of affiliated unions and carrying out a study of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in selected countries.

The findings of the civil aviation survey, published in 2010, and the present survey of port workers, reveal a range of risks and needs in relation to the AIDS epidemic. Almost without exception, the unions concerned wished to start or strengthen their HIV/AIDS activities, while the individuals questioned expressed a range of fears about the disease and a desire for workplace activities for prevention and care.

A number of the replies and comments demonstrated knowledge, understanding and tolerance, but the gaps and contradictions provide an object lesson in the importance of looking beneath the surface. Tackling misconceptions and fears is much harder than filling information gaps. The fears that appear to underlie some of the more judgemental attitudes should be addressed head on. It is significant that in all countries some workers believed themselves – rightly or wrongly – to be at risk of contracting HIV. Responses need to relate to the specifics of the local situation, including very different HIV prevalence levels, but the replies to the survey also show some of the common fears, risks and needs across the world. It is also important to demonstrate the fundamental rights issues related to the epidemic, especially in its impact on labour and employment. HIV/AIDS education should not focus narrowly on sex education, or in some regions on substance abuse, but on the promotion of wellness, healthy living, gender equality, and responsibility in sexual relations. In Southern Africa, many unions are taking an increasingly strong stand to oppose gender-based violence. Many unions are finding a more comprehensive approach useful: HIV is not the sole focus and voluntary testing may include several conditions, such as diabetes and blood pressure.

The three key recommendations concern the need for the ITF to start HIV activities in an integrated way with the affiliates in ports and docks, including producing materials to guide their action on advocacy, collective bargaining, training and peer education; encouraging partnerships with employers and other key stakeholders; and taking advantage of the opportunities offered by international standards such as International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 200 on HIV and AIDS in the world of work and the 2011 UN general assembly declaration on HIV and AIDS. The full report can be found in the following web link: http://www.itfglobal.org/HIV-Aids/port-study.cfm

World AIDS Day this year was about "Getting to Zero", that is zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths. Backed by the United Nations, the "Getting to Zero" campaign runs until 2015.

This year the ITF focused its campaign on zero HIV/IADS related stigma and discrimination at work places. The ITF affiliates all over the world were active during World AIDS day, 2011 and implemented different activities. When we were writing this bulletin, more then 120 affiliates from 42 countries have already sent us reports of their activities. We expect more affiliates will soon report.

Argentina: Federación Nacional de Trabajadores Camioneros y Obreros del Transporte Automotor de CargasLogistica Y Servicios in collaboration with the Ministry of Health organised discussion sessions with theme of “Zero new infection, zero AIDS deaths and zero discrimination”. Stewards from different companies attended the session.Brochures, posters and condoms were distributed to worker.

BREL, Bangladesh organised discussion session to mark the day. They also displayed ITF campaign materials at railways stations and branch offices.

Like previous year, Barbados Workers Union joined the national AIDS programme to mark World AIDS day

Belgium: BTB put up HIV campaign materials in different workplaces. 

Confederacion Sindical de Trabajadores Ferroviarios, LAB, AASANA  y Jubilados Ferroviarios de  Bolivia organised  workshop with the management to develop work place policy and programme by the railway union,  

Burma Seafarers Union organised a education programme for its members.

Sihanoukviille port trade union of Cambodia organised life skill training programme for its members.

CWA, Canada raised money for the  Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation which had been their charity of choice since 1990. Throughout the year, CWA locals raise crucial funds for the Foundation -- more than $7.5 million dollars to date

Colombia: SNTT organised number of activities in different provinces which includes discussion sessions, condoms distributions, putting on ITF poster at work places, meeting with the management to discuss about work place policy.

Workplace education session for road and inland navigation workers was organised by the Fédération Nationale des Ouvriers du Transport from the R.D. Congo. Condoms were also distributed among the workers.

 CORPAQ, Ecuador organised discussion sessions and displayed ITF campaign materials at work places.

 Ethiopian Transport and Communication Workers Trade Union Industrial Federation (TCWTUIF) organized discussion session on HIV/AIDS and workplaces.

 France:CGT organised a discussion session on HIV/AIDS at workplaces. They also distributed ITF’s campaign materials to trade union federation and stops in highways.

Ghana General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union organised a discussion session on HIV/AIDS and workplace issue.

Guatemala: USTAC, Guatemala published special newsletter to mark the occasion. They also put on ITF campaign materials at work places.Sindicato de Trabajadores Portuaris organised a discussion session on November 25, the international day for violence against women in the National Port Company Santo Tomas de Castilla. They distributed condoms to workers.

Confédération Nationale des Travailleurs de Guinée (CNTG),République de Guinée organised discussion on the importance of dealing HIV/AIDS at workplaces.

Guyana: Clerical & Commercial Workers Union, organised a story telling session where both the HIV positive workers and union leaders shared their stories about living positively and challenging stigma and discrimination be breaking the silence in public domain. 

Honduras: Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Empresa Nacional Portuaria organised awareness sessions for the port community in Porto Cortes, they also distributed condoms and campaign materials.

ITF affiliates in India including All India Railwaymen Federation(AIRF), National Federation Indian Railway(NFIR), Maritime union of India, Transport and Dockworkers’ union, Mumbai, Transport and dockworkers union, Kandala, Cochin Port Staff Association, Cochin port staff association, National Union of Seafarers of India(NUSI),  Air India Aircraft Engineers Association, Air India Air cabin crew Association, Air India Employees Guild, Air India Officers Association, Indian Flight Engineers Association,  Maharashtra State Transport Kamgar Sangtha   organized different activities during the WAD which included awareness programmes for workers, street drama, visiting ships and distributing awareness materials and condoms to seafarers, put up ITF posters in workplaces, procession where leaders and members paraded around the railway stations, organising meeting with management to develop workplace policy on HIV/AIDS, health camp for truckers coming to port. 

In Indonesia, the Norwegian Seafarers’ Union and the Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia ran an information stand in Bali seafarers’ centre and held a day of activities including Talk show, AIDS game, education sessions and ship visiting to create awareness.  SPKA, Indonesia organised activities at headquarter, regional offices and at railway stations in different parts of the country.

Kenya: Kenya Long distance truck drivers’ union organised a caravan/road show from Mombasa port to Malaba/Busia border. During the World AIDS day week, they organised counselling and testing at the major truck stops along the corridor targeting truck drivers and taxi drivers and sex workers.

ITF affiliates in Malawi organised number of events during the World AIDS day which includes discussion session involving community leaders, street play, rally, putting on ITF campaign materials, distribution of condoms at work places.

Dhivehi Seafarers & Labour Union, Maldives in collaboration with the Ministry of Health organised awareness campaign in H.Dh. Kulhudufushi one of the densely populated island of Maldives.

Mexico: ATM organised national wide campaign on HIV/AIDS and distributed condoms and awareness materials in different workplaces. CENTRO VERACRUZANO DE BIENESTAR PARA LA GENTE DE MAR, A.C. organised ship visiting and distributed condoms among seafarers..

Mozambique: Sindicato Nacional de Trabalhadores de Transportes Rodoviários, Assistencia Técnica e Simulares (SINTRAT) organised rally, education session for workers. They also distributed condoms at work places.

Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union and Federation organized discussion sessions at work places and displayed ITF campaign materials.

Nepal Yatayat Mazdoor Sangh  organised campaign activities along India and Nepal border points. They also organised rallies, discussion sessions.

Air Transport Services and Senior Staff Association, Nigeria organised a sensitisation workshop on “HIV/AIDS and stigma and discrimination at work places”. HIV positive workers spoke in the workshop

Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de la Aviacion Civil y Similares de la Republica de Panama organised discussion session and displayed ITF campaign materials at work places.

Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines organised awareness sessions fort he seafarers coming for the pre-employment interview. Awareness sessions were also organised for wives of seafarers coming to AMOSUP hospital.

Seafarers' House San Juan, Puerto Rico displayed ITF campaign materials.

National HIV/AIDS Secretariat-Eastern region, Sierra Leone organised number of activities to mark the day in collaboration with different partners.

South Africa Transport and Allied Workers Union(SATAWU) organised number of activities to mark the day at different wellness centres

Federacion Servicios a la Ciudadania CCOO, Spain wrote articles and blogs in union website and other social networking platform. They also work in collaboration with the LGBT organisation,Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gais, Transexuales y Bisexuales (FELGTB) to raise awareness through education and training to achieve zero discrimination and exclusion

National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka organises peer education sessions to mark the day. They also put on ITF campaign materials in work places.

Swaziland Transport and Allied Workers' Union organised awareness sessions for workers and also distributed condoms. They also promoted VCT at work places.

Tanzania: Mission to Seafarers put up ITF campaign materials in the seafarers centre. 

Seafarers centre in Siracha, Thailand organised awareness sessions for Cambodian migrant fishermen. They also conducted ship visiting and distributed condoms.

The Federation of Transport Workers’ Unions of Togo (FESYTRAT) in collaboration with the Workers Trade Union Confederation of Togo (CSTT) organised a discussion session on the "ILO Recommendation No. 200 on HIV / AIDS and the world of work"

In addition to sensitization sessions, Ugandan Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union (ATGWU) conducted voluntary HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) camp at Entebbe airport.

Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine and the Local Black Sea Trade Union of Seafarer organized number of activities for seafarers, cadets of Odessa National Maritime Academy and for the port workers and for the members of the remaining local trade union organizations.  They have developed representational kits, which included an information leaflet, condom and a red ribbon. They  developed own HIV campaign materials and also used ITF’s materials. 

Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railway workers Union organised discussion sessions and Street drama at workplace throughout the country

"Austerity measures brought in to tackle Europe's economic crisis may cause a rise in drug-related HIV infections as stretched health services struggle to cope, the E.U.'s narcotics agency said on Tuesday," Reuters reports. "Greece, which is facing huge cutbacks, reported a large outbreak of HIV infections among drug users in July, the Lisbon-based agency said in its yearly report," the news agency writes, noting, "New infections were also reported in Bulgaria, Estonia and Lithuania, it added."

Wolfgang Gotz, director of the agency, known by its acronym EMCDDA, said, "In some (E.U.) member states, we are witnessing an exceptional set of circumstances that create a perfect storm for causing the rapid spread of drug-related HIV infections within vulnerable communities," Reuters writes (Bugge, 11/15). While cocaine use in Europe is falling and may have peaked, according to the report, "the risk of HIV outbreaks among heroin [users] could increase as the economic downturn led to drug service budgets being overstretched, the agency warned," the Financial Times reports. The newspaper adds, "Budget cuts meant that European drug services 'may be less able to provide adequate responses' as HIV epidemics among drug [users] continued to pose 'a major health problem for many countries bordering the E.U.,' the agency said" (Wise, 11/15). Source: (Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report - Wednesday, November 16, 2011)

Union Sindical de Trabajadores de Aeronautica Civil (USTAC) recently organised a workshop on "Sexuality, Gender, Reproductive Health and Citizen Participation" which was attended by large number of members. The workshop was a part the events the union is planning for the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25. During the workshop all the transport unions in Guatemala joined together to ask the Government, civil society, workers of public and private sector for commitment to fight for the eradication of violence against women. To mark the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 and World AIDS day December 1, USTAC has published special newsletter.

According to the UNAIDS estimate 62,000 people are living with HIV in Guatemala. The General Law on the Fight against HIV/AIDS was enacted in 2002. The Law places emphasis on the principle of children’s best interests. 38% of health facilities now provide antiretroviral treatment to 47% of adults living with HIV. HIV counselling and testing is offered by 185 health services.  31% of health facilities offer paediatric antiretroviral therapy, i.e. they deliver drugs and clinical monitoring. 54% of the 185 establishments perform HIV testing and provide antiretroviral for prevention of mother to child transmission and provides counselling to pregnant women. The main national HIV/AIDS challenges are to ensure universal access to HIV testing for all people, especially for pregnant mothers and universal access to antiretroviral for adults and children, to extend mother-child transmission prevention models and systems and increase social investments to strengthen access for populations at greater risk to HIV prevention, care, care and support

There are about 2 million migrant workers from Burma, Laos PDR and Cambodia living in Thailand, yet only about one-quarter of this group is documented, which gives permission to stay in the country on a year to year basis and provides health insurance. Most of these migrant workers are working in fishing sector and fish processing zone. Although because of their working condition and nature, they are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS but they have very limited access to health care and HIV/AIDS prevention services.

Apostleship of The Sea (AOS), Sriracha Thailand in partnership with local NGOs regularly organise HIV/AIDS education sessions for fishermen coming from Cambodia. The session includes basic facts about HIV/AIDS, prevention of the infection and correct use of condoms. Behaviour change communication materials (BCC) and condoms are also distributed among participants. All these materials provide targeted messages using images that reflect migrants' lifestyle and situation, and are written using wording that is easy to understand. Materials cover a broad gamut of topics. Although the focus is on HIV/AIDS prevention, materials also provide information on reproductive and general health, family planning, how to utilize health insurance benefits, and rights.

Seafarers Centre Management Training Course organized by the ICSW South-East regional office brought together 40 delegates from the sub-region in Singapore from October 8-13, 2011. During the week the delegates have been encouraged to plan and budget their work, to carry out ship visiting as a daily activity to make friends with the seafarers in their ports.

In addition to sessions related to ship visiting, managing seafarers centres, the training programme included one session on “Healthy seafarers, “ and one session on “HIV/AIDS and seafaring.” All the participants showed much interest to get involved in HIV/AIDS awareness activities for seafarers visiting their centres. They requested the ITF and the ICSW to send them materials on HIV/AIDS and also to provide some financial support to put on condom dispensing boxes in their centres.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently launched a new AIDS strategy intended to meet the needs of the changing face of the AIDS epidemic. The strategy articulates UNESCO’s contribution to the UNAIDS strategy Getting to Zero, and calls for the need to accelerate universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. “All parts of the Organization are mobilized at the global, regional and country levels, through activities that are culturally appropriate, gender transformative and evidence-based. This cross disciplinary approach is our signature strength and it is well-suited for tackling HIV,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.

In the new strategy, HIV prevention education will be integrated within the context of wider health promotion to ensure that all girls and boys, and young women and men, have access to comprehensive health education. Furthermore, UNESCO strategy outlines three priority areas:

·        Building country capacity for effective and sustainable education sector responses to HIV;

·        Strengthening comprehensive HIV and sexuality education;

·        Advancing gender equality and protecting human rights.

UNESCO hopes that its new AIDS strategy will reinforce the pivotal role of the education sector in a successful AIDS response. With knowledge about HIV and health issues provided in a nurturing and enabling environment, young people can make more informed choices about how to live safer and healthier lives. (Source:UNESCO)

Recently FESYTRAT, the ITF road transport affiliate in Togo organise a week-long Organising and VCT campaign in collaboration with other ITF affiliate SYNTRAPAL. Organising campaign was mainly focussed on unorganised taxi drivers and workers in motor spare parts shops. The VCT campaign was organized on the theme: "Know your HIV status” The screening campaign was held successively traveling at three sites including the port area: to ICD-TOGO, the ETS and to the Office of the URT. Proper counselling and awareness sessions on HIV/AIDS were also conducted during the testing. During this campaign, one hundred and fifty seven (157) transport workers were screened. They are members of the Federation of Transport Workers Unions of Togo (FESYTRAT), the Union of Road Togo (URT), the Union of Drivers of Hydrocarbons Togo (SYNCOHYTO), the Union of Professional Road Togo (SYPROTO), the National Union of Taxi Drivers City of Togo (TOGO-SYNACTAV) and the Federation Togolese National Trade Union of Drivers of Heavy Goods Vehicle (FENATO-SYCOPOLO).Drivers from Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali also took part in the screening campaign. Of the hundred and fifty seven (157) drivers detected, there were only five (05) HIV positive cases who were referred to the Health Centre of the Autonomous Port of Lomé for their support.

Togo lies smack bang in the middle of West Africa's main trade and transport corridor. According to the UNAIDS estimate, the total number of people living with HIV is120,000. Deaths due to AIDS are 7,700 and orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 17 is 66,000. However, these official estimations may be far from the reality because HIV surveillance system is not adequately meeting the need. Togo government is showing increasing commitment to fight HIV/AIDS and through a government decreed since November 17, 2008 ARV is free of charge for all HIV positive people.

The ITF is calling on its affiliates to mark World AIDS Day on 1 December 2011. World AIDS Day this year is about "Getting to Zero", that is zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths. Backed by the United Nations, the "Getting to Zero" campaign runs until 2015. The vision for this year's World AIDS Day and beyond may be aspirational but the journey towards its attainment is laid with concrete milestones. The decision to go with the millennium development related goal of "Getting to Zero" comes after extensive discussions among people living with HIV, health activists, broader civil society and many others – more than a hundred organisations in all.

The transport industry is a vital partner in the response to HIV/AIDS. It moves millions of people every day, both within and across borders. These movements can become a powerful channel for challenging stigma, discrimination, disseminating the information, knowledge and understanding on which effective prevention depends.

This year the ITF will focus its campaign on “zero new infections and zero discrimination”. We encourage everyone to start the plan from now, develop linkages and collaboration with local and national organisations to intensify the momentum to achieve our objective of “getting to zero”.

What can you and your union do?

Join transport unions across the globe that have and continue to respond to this issue. It is a collective union responsibility that requires a collective union response.

Organise an activity: Let us know about the activities you have planned for World AIDS Day 2011 – please complete the online World AIDS Day 2011 participation form. As in previous years, we will highlight your events on the ITF website. View ITF affiliates activities 2010 and 2009.

Order campaign materials: Over the last five years, the ITF has produced four sets of HIV campaign materials which were highly appreciated and widely used by our affiliates. This year we have decided to use all of our previous campaign materials. We request you download the order application form for posters, stickers and the Best Practices publication and return back to us by email with a scanned copy of the order form to altaf_asif@itf.org.uk or by fax +44 207 357 7871.Please order your materials no later than Monday 31 October 2011.

Send us your photos and videos: After World AIDS Day, please make sure you send through photos and/or videos from your campaign activity so that we can add them to the website. Send your images and videos to: altaf_asif@itf.org.uk

Good luck with your activities and don't forget to keep the ITF informed so we can share and develop best practice to fight against HIV/AIDS

The ITF Asia-Pacific regional office has recently developed a documentary on the HIV/AIDS vulnerability of transport workers and stigma and discrimination faced by both affected and infected transport workers and their family. The documentary, “Being Positive” was officially launched in August 29, 2011 during the International Conference of AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) in Pusan, Korea.

Recently “Being Positive” has bagged the 3^rd Best Documentary Award in the Development Film Festival, Delhi, India which was held from 4-18 September 2011.  The focus of the festival this year was Livelihoods and Poverty.  The documentary explores the relationship between HIV/AIDS and the factors making transport workers vulnerable to the deadly infection. The documentary is in Hindi with English subtitle and will be soon subtitled into other languages. It will be sent to all the affiliates and can be used as an effective educational and advocacy tool.

New data published in the WHO's  2011 Global Tuberculosis Control Report  shows that the number of people who fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) dropped to 8.8 million in 2010, after peaking at 9 million in 2005. Yet, current progress is at risk from under-funding, especially efforts to combat drug-resistant TB.Global Tuberculosis Control Report is the sixteenth global report on tuberculosis (TB) published by WHO in a series that started in 1997. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic and progress in implementing and financing TB prevention, care and control at global, regional and country levels using data reported by 198 countries that account for over 99% of the world’s TB cases.

TB deaths fell to 1.4 million in 2010, after reaching 1.8 million in 2003 and the TB death rate dropped 40% between 1990 and 2010, and all regions, except Africa, are on track to achieve a 50% decline in mortality by 2015. In 2009, 87% of patients treated were cured, with 46 million people successfully treated and 7 million lives saved since 1995. However, a third of estimated TB cases worldwide are not notified and therefore it is unknown whether they have been diagnosed and properly treated. Among these countries are Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. In these African countries, the burden of TB is estimated to have been declining for much of the last decade after a peak linked to the HIV epidemic. Brazil has reported a significant and sustained decline in its TB burden since 1990. In China the progress has been dramatic. Between 1990 and 2010, China's TB death rate fell by almost 80%, with deaths falling from 216,000 in 1990, to 55,000 in 2010. In the same period, TB prevalence halved, from 215 to 108 per 100,000 populations. (Source: WHO)

Sindicato de Trabajadores Unidos de Empornac (SITRUEMPORNAC), the ITF affiliate in Guatemala organised a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) camp in Porto Santo Thomas from August 9-11, 2011. A total of 71 workers attended the camp to know their HIV status. The union organised the event in collaboration with the port management, port Medical Clinic and Japan Friendship Hospital, Guatemala city. Due to high interest from the members, the union is planning to organise another VCT camp in late September. This union initiative comes at a time when the Guatemalan government has recently organised the national testing week to meet the country's commitment to universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support for HIV.

With less than 1 percent of the adult population estimated to be HIV positive, Guatemala is considered to have a concentrated epidemic. However, as Central America’s largest country, it accounts for nearly one-sixth of Central America’s HIV-infected population. Several risk factors contribute to Guatemala’s epidemic, including migration and tourism. While in transit, migrants may participate in high-risk sexual behaviour, increasing their chances of becoming infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). An estimated 65 701 people are living with HIV in Guatemala.

Each year, there are an estimated 7 557 new infections in Guatemala, the equivalent of 21 people newly infected each day. Since the country’s first case of HIV was reported in 1984, the country’s epidemic is concentrated among key populations at higher risk, such as transgender people, people with tuberculosis, men who have sex with men, female sex workers, youth at risk, and prisoners.

Four ITF affiliates in Tanzania namely Dockers, Road, Rail and Seafarers and long distance truck drivers association recently got together for a joint organising activity in Dar-es-Salaam.  Union organisers, peer educators, women leaders, zonal leaders and young workers took part in the event.

The deputy General Secretary of the Dock Workers Union Tanzania was present during the launch of the activity where he encouraged and advised the organising team to make use of all available facilities and opportunities to recruit new members.

The main objective of the event was to enhance recruitment campaigns with workers participation through HIV/AIDS activities around the existing wellness centres. The activity targeted workers who worked at the Magogoni ferry, Tazara railway Workshop, Tanzania Freight Forwarders, Tanzania Road Haulage Company and the long distance truck drivers.  By the end of the five day activity 178 new members had been recruited.