Bidco, Unilever, Mabati, shine at inaugural HIV/AIDS awards

By  Staff

NAIROBI---Bidco, Mabati Rolling Mills and Unilever were among the companies that won awards for developing innovative and effective HIV/AIDS programmes. The awards were the culmination of a two-day symposium held in Nairobi last week, whose objective was to enhance learning among private sector players for improved HIV/AIDS programming and recognize the best practices from the private sector.

FKE Board chairman Dr Cleopa Mailu told a media briefing at Nairobi’s Intercontinental Hotel that the private sector, through its workforce, its ability to advocate at the highest levels of government, and its economic ties to both donor countries and those hardest hit by the pandemic has the unparalleled opportunity to change the course of the pandemic for individuals, families, communities and even nations.

“In order to minimize the negative impact HIV/AIDS has inflicted on business productivity and to improve the general wellbeing of workers and their families, FKE with support from UNDP and other development partners has been building the capacity of its members and advocating the development of HIV/AIDS company policies”, said Dr Mailu. “To that effect, a number of private players have registered great success in implementing workplace policies and programmes, while some are still experiencing challenges. This calls for the need to organize forums to share lessons and enhance networking and referrals.”

The inaugural private sector HIV/AIDS achievement awards were presented in recognition of the various and innovative efforts and initiatives various organizations have developed in the fight against HIV/AIDS at the workplace. Awards were given in three categories namely A, B and C. In Category A, recognition was given to a comprehensive workplace programme entailing interventions that are targeted at staff, spouses and dependants. Unilever Tea Kenya Ltd, Sony Sugar Ltd and Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd emerged victors in this category.

Category B was for community engagement and was awarded to organizations that can demonstrate that they have expanded their interventions beyond the workplace to reach out to the community.  General Motors East Africa Ltd scooped the award in this category as did Bidco Oil Refineries Ltd and Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd.

The category C award was for networking, partnership and mentorship. Prospective awardees were to demonstrate how they utilize their skill, competence and capacity to mentor their peers and catalyse the roll-out of like-minded interventions. Here, Shell Oil Products Africa and Gertrude's Garden Children's Hospital ran away with the prize.

Evaluation of applications was done by a panel of independent judges drawn from government, development partners and HIV programmers with understanding of workplace HIV/AIDS programmes.

FKE has championed the fight against HIV/AIDS since 1988 when it issued the first guideline on HIV/AIDS at the workplace.  In June 2009, the Federation, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, COTU, the Kenyan workers’ umbrella body, launched the first “National Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS in the workplace.”

Before the awards presentation, there was a launch of “The best practices” document.

“Best practices of FKE member organizations implementing the work place programmes is a great document coming at a time the  response is being scaled up to reflect the strides the country has put in place  towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment care and support”, said NACC Director, Prof Alloys Orago.

The document is a product of an indepth analysis and documentation of situations as they exist in the place of work and a collaboration between the various stakeholders. By pooling resources and sharing successes and failures, businesses can significantly broaden their spheres of influence while simultaneously improving the efficiency of their efforts.

“In a country like ours where prevalence and incidences of HIV are still high, no company will go unaffected. Where a company is making efforts to reduce the rate of new infections within its own workforce, it is in the company’s best interest that it’s neighbours-even its    competitors –do likewise”, said Prof Orago.