Getting to Zero at Work and VCT Campaign in Iringa, Mbeya and Njombe Regions
The ILO HIV and AIDS at workplace programme in collaboration with the President Office, Public Service Management (POPSM), the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) and TACAIDS is organizing a series of VCT activities in Njombe, Iringa and Mbeya Regions until December 2014.
27 October 2014
HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) is an essential gateway to scaling-up treatment for adults and children living with HIV consequently saving lives
and reducing new HIV infections. The 2013 UNAIDS Gap Report argues that “acceptable, accessible and affordable voluntary and confidential HIV
testing—whether it is at the community or health service level—results in earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment initiation, with better health
outcomes.” The report also shows that although HIV testing has been significantly scaled up in sub-Saharan Africa, only 45% of people living with
HIV know their HIV status. Only 10% of young men and 15% of young women (15–24 years) were aware of their HIV status in 2013,
underscoring the need to increase HIV knowledge and expand testing. In Tanzania, 62 percent of women and 47 percent of men have ever been
tested and received the results of their HIV test according to the THMIS 2011/12.
HCT@ Work
In November 2012, the ILO global programme on HIV and AIDS (ILO/AIDS) launched a campaign called “Getting to Zero at Work”. The main aim of the campaign is to utilize potentials existing in the world of work to contribute to the UNAIDS Global Goal of “Zero new infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths”. The Campaign ought to promote rights of people living with HIV with a focus on labour rights. Evidence show that, globally people living with HIV face human right violations associated with their HIV status including losing jobs and other means of livelihoods. The ILO recommendation 200 and national frameworks like HIV Prevention and Control Act 2008, Employment and
Labour Relations act 2004 and National HIV Policy provide sound argument on addressing HIV through the promotion of human rights, job security and support services from a workplace perspective.
The getting to Zero at work campaign focuses on two strategic areas:
(1) Giving voice to those who are making a difference and those who are benefiting from the initiatives in the world of work; and
(2) Promoting and conducting Voluntary HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) targeting employees their families and neighboring communities.
2.1 Voice Giving
The voice giving intervention will involve collection and publication of personal Success Stories from various individual workers (Government,
Private (formal and informal), CSOs and other organizations of people living with HIV.
2.2. HTC Promotion
The Voluntary HTC activities will involve Social and Behavior Change Communication to create demand and referrals for those who test positive
or in need of other medical services like Male Circumcision.
Implementation modalities/ Management of the Campaign
•A combination of approaches will be used in carrying out activities under each output. Specific forums will be created for some activities
while other activities will be mainstreamed in the ongoing/regular workplace programmes.
•The campaign will be led by the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) and the President Office, Public Service Management (POPSM).
The two organizations will co-chair the task force, lead implementation of agreed activities and report to the tripartite plus
forum. ILO and TACAIDS will provide technical support in the coordination of the various campaign activities.
•The campaign will align to the national monitoring and evaluation systems. The reporting on the VCT activities will use the government
forms using existing national reporting indicators related to the VCT. The VCT will be performed by the government, private and voluntary
based health facilities currently providing VCT services. VCT interventions will be performed as guided by the WHO and national
guidelines, ensuring that rights of clients seeking the service are protected, including the confidentiality in the prior and post
counseling.
•The developed Time Bound Action Plan among other things includes training workshop on HIV and AIDS for employees and management
representatives in the selected areas/locations. The training specifically aims at informing employers and workers in the selected
workplaces about the Global ILO VCT@Work initiative and the action taken at the country level in rolling out the campaign at the
workplaces. It is against this background that the VCT campaign will engage trainers to support on the facilitation on HIV and AIDS and
VCT@Work initiatives in the selected locations.
Objectives of the training:
The objective of the training is to train participants on HIV and AIDS and inform employers and workers in the selected workplaces about the Global
ILO VCT@Work initiative.
Expected Outputs
•Employers and Management representatives from the selected workplaces trained on HIV/TB/STI and reproductive health issues and
informed of the ILO VCT @Work campaign.
•Dissemination of Time bound Action Plan on VCT campaign
•Dissemination of National Circular on HIV and AIDS for Public Sector Employees for Tanzania Mainland.
•Dissemination of the printed materials for VCT campaign
Target group:
100 workplace coordinators and Human Resource Officers from the selected workplaces will be trained on HIV and AIDS. The targeted
participants for the training are workers most of whom are PEs in their respective workplaces. Representative of the Management will be Human
resource personnel who play big role in managing personnel files including employees who disclosed their HIV status. After the training, it is expected
that the trained trainers will facilitate and coordinate the VCT activities on the planned dates for specific locations. They are expected to further
implementation of the WPP in their respective workplaces.
Participating Institutions
UNAIDS, TACAIDS, MoLE.
and reducing new HIV infections. The 2013 UNAIDS Gap Report argues that “acceptable, accessible and affordable voluntary and confidential HIV
testing—whether it is at the community or health service level—results in earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment initiation, with better health
outcomes.” The report also shows that although HIV testing has been significantly scaled up in sub-Saharan Africa, only 45% of people living with
HIV know their HIV status. Only 10% of young men and 15% of young women (15–24 years) were aware of their HIV status in 2013,
underscoring the need to increase HIV knowledge and expand testing. In Tanzania, 62 percent of women and 47 percent of men have ever been
tested and received the results of their HIV test according to the THMIS 2011/12.
HCT@ Work
In November 2012, the ILO global programme on HIV and AIDS (ILO/AIDS) launched a campaign called “Getting to Zero at Work”. The main aim of the campaign is to utilize potentials existing in the world of work to contribute to the UNAIDS Global Goal of “Zero new infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths”. The Campaign ought to promote rights of people living with HIV with a focus on labour rights. Evidence show that, globally people living with HIV face human right violations associated with their HIV status including losing jobs and other means of livelihoods. The ILO recommendation 200 and national frameworks like HIV Prevention and Control Act 2008, Employment and
Labour Relations act 2004 and National HIV Policy provide sound argument on addressing HIV through the promotion of human rights, job security and support services from a workplace perspective.
The getting to Zero at work campaign focuses on two strategic areas:
(1) Giving voice to those who are making a difference and those who are benefiting from the initiatives in the world of work; and
(2) Promoting and conducting Voluntary HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) targeting employees their families and neighboring communities.
2.1 Voice Giving
The voice giving intervention will involve collection and publication of personal Success Stories from various individual workers (Government,
Private (formal and informal), CSOs and other organizations of people living with HIV.
2.2. HTC Promotion
The Voluntary HTC activities will involve Social and Behavior Change Communication to create demand and referrals for those who test positive
or in need of other medical services like Male Circumcision.
Implementation modalities/ Management of the Campaign
•A combination of approaches will be used in carrying out activities under each output. Specific forums will be created for some activities
while other activities will be mainstreamed in the ongoing/regular workplace programmes.
•The campaign will be led by the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) and the President Office, Public Service Management (POPSM).
The two organizations will co-chair the task force, lead implementation of agreed activities and report to the tripartite plus
forum. ILO and TACAIDS will provide technical support in the coordination of the various campaign activities.
•The campaign will align to the national monitoring and evaluation systems. The reporting on the VCT activities will use the government
forms using existing national reporting indicators related to the VCT. The VCT will be performed by the government, private and voluntary
based health facilities currently providing VCT services. VCT interventions will be performed as guided by the WHO and national
guidelines, ensuring that rights of clients seeking the service are protected, including the confidentiality in the prior and post
counseling.
•The developed Time Bound Action Plan among other things includes training workshop on HIV and AIDS for employees and management
representatives in the selected areas/locations. The training specifically aims at informing employers and workers in the selected
workplaces about the Global ILO VCT@Work initiative and the action taken at the country level in rolling out the campaign at the
workplaces. It is against this background that the VCT campaign will engage trainers to support on the facilitation on HIV and AIDS and
VCT@Work initiatives in the selected locations.
Objectives of the training:
The objective of the training is to train participants on HIV and AIDS and inform employers and workers in the selected workplaces about the Global
ILO VCT@Work initiative.
Expected Outputs
•Employers and Management representatives from the selected workplaces trained on HIV/TB/STI and reproductive health issues and
informed of the ILO VCT @Work campaign.
•Dissemination of Time bound Action Plan on VCT campaign
•Dissemination of National Circular on HIV and AIDS for Public Sector Employees for Tanzania Mainland.
•Dissemination of the printed materials for VCT campaign
Target group:
100 workplace coordinators and Human Resource Officers from the selected workplaces will be trained on HIV and AIDS. The targeted
participants for the training are workers most of whom are PEs in their respective workplaces. Representative of the Management will be Human
resource personnel who play big role in managing personnel files including employees who disclosed their HIV status. After the training, it is expected
that the trained trainers will facilitate and coordinate the VCT activities on the planned dates for specific locations. They are expected to further
implementation of the WPP in their respective workplaces.
Participating Institutions
UNAIDS, TACAIDS, MoLE.