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On July 8 2009, in Kaluga, the International Labour Organization in close cooperation with Kaluga regional AIDS Center organized Round table «Prospects for cooperation between the Kaluga region and the ILO on the issue of HIV/AIDS prevention in the world of work”. This activity was implemented within the framework of the ILO new project aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination at workplaces through HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns.
The ILO selected Kaluga oblast as one of the pilot regions not occasionally – this territory has a positive experience of establishing and strengthening social partnership of local authorities, public organizations, health professionals and business structures in the field of prevention of socially caused diseases, especially among young people. Kaluga oblast is the territory with a moderate growth rate of HIV – since 1989 there have been registered more than 1,400 case of HIV-infection.
However, it should be noted that the overwhelming majority of currently registered cases are characterized by a heterosexual way of transmission among socially and economically active population. This fact caused the involvement of people aged 30 and more in the epidemiological process. In this context, preventive activities among the general population, in particular, at workplaces, are of great importance.
HIV/AIDS prevention at workplaces and reducing stigma and discrimination became a key theme for the Round table. The representatives of the Kaluga Regional Government, related Ministries, trade unions, employers’ regional association, big and medium enterprises and other interested institutions took an active part in the Round table discussions. The specialists of Kaluga regional AIDS Center made an overview of HIV/AIDS epidemiological situation in the territory. Thus, in their opinion, a competently-organized HIV/AIDS prevention campaign in the world of work would save millions of rubles to the State, that otherwise would be spent on expensive treatment and disability benefits for workers in their highest productive age.
Anastassia Danilina (ILO Office in Moscow) and Vladlena Diachkova, ILO trainer and consultant, presented the ILO strategic approaches towards the problem of HIV/AIDS and an overview of programmes that were implemented in Russia with the ILO’s technical and expert support. Besides, the participants discussed the mechanisms of social partnership for effective HIV/AIDS response in the world of work in Kaluga oblast and outlined a plan of activities under the project. In particular, it is envisaged to organize in Kaluga a three-day training of trainers who will be capable to carry out later on educational activities (in the form of trainings, seminars, etc) on HIV/AIDS prevention at workplace with a special accent on the issue of stigma and discrimination. The information campaign – publication of posters, booklets, leaflets, etc and their consequent dissemination – is also a very effective and demanded activity at workplace.
(IA “Regnum” materials were used for the preparation of this press release).
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