Mozambique’s street vendors and boardroom executives might not seem to have much in common, but the ILO’s HIV activities in the country are actively involving both in one of its most comprehensive and wide ranging national programmes.
“HIV affects people at all levels of society and the workplace offers an ideal entry point to reach them with prevention and assistance programmes tailored to their specific needs,” says Paulo Carlos Romao, National HIV/AIDS Focal Point for the ILO in Maputo.
Mozambique has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world with 11.5% of 15–49 years old living with HIV and the southern part of the country hardest hit. Transmission is mostly through heterosexual contact and women are more affected than men, especially in the younger age groups.
“I am 25 years old and I live alone as I lost my son and husband to AIDS,” says Maria Rocha who is HIV positive herself and lives in Sofala province where young women are five times more likely to be infected than men their age. “I have problems finding food as I have no work,” she explains.
Women like Maria are a high priority in Mozambique’s national HIV response which targets reducing risk and vulnerability; preventing new infections, providing treatment and care, and mitigating the impact of HIV on those affected. In 2008 the UN Country Team on AIDS, particularly the ILO, UNAIDS, UNICEF and UNDP joined forces to manage a united programme backing the government’s efforts.
The ILO’s role is to support the workplace response, acting as a catalyst to build local capacity with specialized training and knowledge to tackle the epidemic. At a national level it is helping to revise Mozambique’s HIV and AIDS laws to protect against stigma and discrimination in the workplace and assisting with policy and planning advice. But the majority of its activities are taking place on the ground and it is here that the ILO’s traditional government, trade union and private sector partners are crucial, as they know how to mobilize and engage their memberships, targeting the different needs of affected workers.
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