III Hemispheric Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety Cuzco, Peru, October 21 and 22, 2008 “...

III Hemispheric Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety

Cuzco, Peru, October 21 and 22, 2008

“HIV/AIDS IN THE WORKPLACE ”

Response of the Government of Response of the Government of HondurasHonduras

to the problem of HIV/AIDSto the problem of HIV/AIDS

BackgroundBackground

• State policy to provide a national response to State policy to provide a national response to HIV/AIDS was headed and coordinated by the HIV/AIDS was headed and coordinated by the Secretariat of Health through the Department Secretariat of Health through the Department of STI/HIV/AIDS. of STI/HIV/AIDS.

• Actions have been carried out with a social Actions have been carried out with a social mobilization and multisectoral approach. mobilization and multisectoral approach. Governmental efforts were complemented by Governmental efforts were complemented by actions of NGOs, associations, and other actions of NGOs, associations, and other sectors.sectors.




• At the outset of the epidemic in 1985, a At the outset of the epidemic in 1985, a National Commission on Labor and HIV/AIDS National Commission on Labor and HIV/AIDS Surveillance was formed, with representatives Surveillance was formed, with representatives of, of, inter aliainter alia, the Secretariat of Health, the , the Secretariat of Health, the Medical College, and the Red Cross. Its Medical College, and the Red Cross. Its function was to direct activities aimed at function was to direct activities aimed at addressing and monitoring the problem. addressing and monitoring the problem.

• The sources of support were primarily the The sources of support were primarily the government and external cooperation. government and external cooperation. Another important source of expenditure on Another important source of expenditure on HIV/AIDS was households.HIV/AIDS was households.



BackgroundBackground• Since 1986, the Secretariat of Health has Since 1986, the Secretariat of Health has

performed blood filtration (blood banks, performed blood filtration (blood banks, public and private hospitals, Red Cross public and private hospitals, Red Cross and Honduran Social Security Institute and Honduran Social Security Institute (IHSS) banks. (IHSS) banks.

• Biosecurity was promoted and Biosecurity was promoted and implemented in the country’s health units.implemented in the country’s health units.

• In 1989, the National AIDS Prevention and In 1989, the National AIDS Prevention and Control Program was created, and the first Control Program was created, and the first medium-term plan formulated.medium-term plan formulated.




• 1995: STI/HIV/AIDS Education Program for 1995: STI/HIV/AIDS Education Program for Honduran Workers (PETSIDAH). The program Honduran Workers (PETSIDAH). The program promoted political dialogue between the promoted political dialogue between the Secretariat of Health (SS), the Secretariat of Secretariat of Health (SS), the Secretariat of Labor (STSS), the IHSS, the Honduran Council Labor (STSS), the IHSS, the Honduran Council on Private Enterprise (COHEP), and labor unions.on Private Enterprise (COHEP), and labor unions.

• 1996: Implementation of PETSIDAH in a pilot 1996: Implementation of PETSIDAH in a pilot company: the Honduran Telecommunication company: the Honduran Telecommunication Company (HONDUTEL).Company (HONDUTEL).

• 1999: Enactment of the Special Law on 1999: Enactment of the Special Law on HIV/AIDS, which provides for the creation of the HIV/AIDS, which provides for the creation of the National Commission on AIDS (CONASIDA)National Commission on AIDS (CONASIDA)

Response of the Government of HondurasResponse of the Government of Hondurasto the problem of HIV/AIDSto the problem of HIV/AIDS


• 2000/2002:2000/2002: The STSS, with support from GTZ, coordinates The STSS, with support from GTZ, coordinates PETSIDAH in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula companies.PETSIDAH in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula companies.

• 2002: PENSIDA II 2003-2007 was developed.2002: PENSIDA II 2003-2007 was developed.– Formation of partnerships and networks with other Formation of partnerships and networks with other

organizations and NGOs, commitment from private organizations and NGOs, commitment from private companies and labor organizations regarding resource companies and labor organizations regarding resource availability.availability.

– Target population: The working population, with Target population: The working population, with emphasis on maquilas, given the high concentration of emphasis on maquilas, given the high concentration of women working in maquilas and the identification of women working in maquilas and the identification of factors promoting their situation of vulnerability.factors promoting their situation of vulnerability.

• 2003: The STSS launches implementation of the project 2003: The STSS launches implementation of the project ““Mobilization of Resources to Prevent STI/HIV/AIDS among Mobilization of Resources to Prevent STI/HIV/AIDS among Women Working in Maquilas,Women Working in Maquilas,” financed by UNAIDS in the ” financed by UNAIDS in the Central American regionCentral American region

Signature of Signature of agreementagreement

Presentation of project

San Pedro Sula: 2/9/04

Tegucigalpa: 2/18/04

Response of the STSS: Training Response of the STSS: Training

• Seminars on bringing to Seminars on bringing to society the legal society the legal framework and human framework and human rights, in coordination with rights, in coordination with the National Human Rights the National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH)Commission (CONADEH)

• Training of key company Training of key company personnel (human personnel (human resources managers, resources managers, health personnel, and health personnel, and health and safety health and safety committees) on HIV/AIDS committees) on HIV/AIDS in the workplace. in the workplace.

Response of the STSS: Providing Response of the STSS: Providing companies with materials and dispensers companies with materials and dispensers

Placement of condom dispensers and information displays

Response of the STSS: IEC Response of the STSS: IEC material for company workersmaterial for company workers

Brochures and posters on STIs, HIV/AIDS, condom use, and the Special Law on HIV/AIDS

Response of the STSS: Response of the STSS: ZIP INHDELVA Health FairZIP INHDELVA Health Fair

RESULTS: RESULTS:

Care, training, and follow-upCare, training, and follow-up

• 242242 workers trained as multipliers workers trained as multipliers

• 49,000 49,000 workers had access to informationworkers had access to information on HIV/AIDS, STIs, the on HIV/AIDS, STIs, the legal framework, and condom uselegal framework, and condom use

• 9090 workers received rapid testing, with informed consent workers received rapid testing, with informed consent

• 12 12 media outlets provided support in bringing the project to societymedia outlets provided support in bringing the project to society

• Incorporation of the HIV/AIDS component in the Diploma Program on Incorporation of the HIV/AIDS component in the Diploma Program on Workplace Risk Prevention (UNAH–STSS-AECI)Workplace Risk Prevention (UNAH–STSS-AECI)

RESULTS: RESULTS: Care, training, and follow-upCare, training, and follow-up

• Distributed: Distributed:

4646 information displays information displays

34 34 videosvideos

47 47 condom dispenserscondom dispensers

80,00080,000 condoms condoms• Elimination of the HIV testing requirement in internal company Elimination of the HIV testing requirement in internal company

regulationsregulations

• Mechanism for advising and monitoring of workers and employers Mechanism for advising and monitoring of workers and employers on HIV/AIDS and labor rights, established in the STSS. 22 workers on HIV/AIDS and labor rights, established in the STSS. 22 workers received carereceived care..

ARTICLES RELATED TO LABOR RIGHTS IN THE SPECIAL LAW ON

HIV/AIDS

Article 52Article 52

Guaranteeing the right to work. Guaranteeing the right to work. Therefore, no working person or Therefore, no working person or

public or private sector employee public or private sector employee may be terminated because of HIV may be terminated because of HIV

infection or contraction of AIDSinfection or contraction of AIDS


Employers may not prevent or restrict their Employers may not prevent or restrict their workers or employees infected with HIV or ill workers or employees infected with HIV or ill with AIDS from receiving the necessary with AIDS from receiving the necessary medical care.medical care.

Employers may not dismiss, punish, degrade, Employers may not dismiss, punish, degrade, or reduce the wages of their HIV-infected or reduce the wages of their HIV-infected employees.employees.


HIV-positive workers or employees are not obliged HIV-positive workers or employees are not obliged to report their serological condition, provided this to report their serological condition, provided this does not imply a risk of infecting other does not imply a risk of infecting other individualsindividuals..


HIV-positive status does not invalidate inherent HIV-positive status does not invalidate inherent acquired insurance coverage rights.acquired insurance coverage rights.

Mechanism to support and monitor persons Mechanism to support and monitor persons living with HIV/AIDS in connection with living with HIV/AIDS in connection with

labor rights-related problems labor rights-related problems MHSO-STSS Dept.MHSO-STSS Dept.

Interview with Occupational Medicine physician

Coordination with SH inspectors, social worker,

and legal advisor

1.Company representative

2. Workplace investigation

Labor rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS (labor code and HIV/AIDS law)

2. Company is informed of the results of the investigation

Conciliation No

Conciliation

Office of the Prosecutor for Labor Respective court

Lessons learned:Lessons learned: Interagency coordination Interagency coordination facilitates and strengthens workplace actions on facilitates and strengthens workplace actions on HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS

Interagency committee

SS, STSS, IHSS, persons living with HIV/AIDS, Care, Open Door, Doctors without Borders, FITH, Bolsa Samaritana, CONADEH, AHM

Lessons learnedLessons learned

• Direct involvement by STSS authorities facilitates Direct involvement by STSS authorities facilitates placing the topic of HIV/AIDS on the agenda of placing the topic of HIV/AIDS on the agenda of managers and entrepreneurs.managers and entrepreneurs.

• Support from company managers and heads of human Support from company managers and heads of human resource departments was an important factor in resource departments was an important factor in implementing activities for workers and worker policies. implementing activities for workers and worker policies.

• Training of key STSS and company human resources Training of key STSS and company human resources contributed to increasing knowledge and improving the contributed to increasing knowledge and improving the quality of care services, both within the Secretariat and quality of care services, both within the Secretariat and within companies. within companies.

Lessons learnedLessons learned

• Participation by the Honduran Association of Participation by the Honduran Association of Maquiladores (AHM) was a key factor in Maquiladores (AHM) was a key factor in promoting greater commitment by other promoting greater commitment by other member organizations and by businessmen, member organizations and by businessmen, facilitating premises, meeting rooms, facilitating premises, meeting rooms, invitations to the media, etc.invitations to the media, etc.

• The media contributed to bringing the project The media contributed to bringing the project and project activities to society through and project activities to society through interviews and reporting, but greater interviews and reporting, but greater commitment was lacking.commitment was lacking.

Recognition of businessesRecognition of businesses

Incorporation of the Incorporation of the subject of HIV/AIDS in subject of HIV/AIDS in

STSS programmingSTSS programming

PENSIDA strategic area Objective Activities

Prevention

STSS staff informed about

and received training on HIV/AIDS

Organization of workshops and seminars on HIV and the corresponding internal STSS rules and regulations

Facilitation for STSS staff of access to informational materials on HIV/AIDS

Commemoration of World AIDS Day with activities targeted at STSS staff and their families

Promotion and facilitation of access to HIV/AIDS testing for STSS staff

PENSIDA strategic area Objective Activities

Prevention

The STSS promotes prevention actions and HIV care in the workplace

Development of an advertising and information campaign on HIV in the workplace targeted at employers and workers

Incorporation of the subject of HIV in the Occupational Health program

Informing of STSS childcare center staff and parents about HIV

Promotion of training actions in companies through mixed occupational health and safety committees

PENSIDA strategic area

Objective Activities

Policies and human rights

The STSS promotes respect for the labor rights of and nondiscrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS

Conduct of an awareness campaign within the STSS against discrimination in connection with HIV and employment

Conduct of company informational activities, with emphasis on the labor rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families

Provision of advice on incorporating the subject of HIV in collective contract negotiations

Incorporation of the subject of the labor rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the proposed labor code reform document

Incorporation of the subject of nondiscrimination against HIV in labor regulations

PENSIDA strategic area

Objective Activities

Policies and human rights

STSS strengthened to defend labor

rights in connection with

HIV

Training of STSS employees on national and international legislation on HIV and human rights

Training of labor inspectors to strengthen respect for the labor rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS and incorporation of the subject of HIV in workplace health programs

III Hemispheric Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety Cuzco, Peru, October 21 and 22, 2008 “...

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Transcript of III Hemispheric Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety Cuzco, Peru, October 21 and 22, 2008 “...