Rwanda’s telecom company Tigo has launched an in-house HIV/AIDS program aimed at promoting the pandemic awareness amongst its employees and partners.
The program will involve providing and encouraging voluntary HIV testing, treatment, care and support at the workplace.
Four years program will be conducted by the support of Swedish Workplace HIV/AIDS Program (SWAHAP), an NGO that aims at contributing to the private sector response towards awareness of the virus and medical support.
Tigo’s acting CEO Diego Camberos encouraged his staff to utilize the services which he believes would help them to know their health status.
“Most of you are young and we’re building the future hence a need to fight and achieve our goals so this pandemic shouldn’t let us down.” Camberos said at the launch of the program one hour ago.
Nina-Claudia Ndabaneze the company’s marketing manager was quick to point out that, “the impact of HIV/AIDS on any business and its employees is patent in many ways.
“Sometimes it leads to absenteeism of workers seeking health services which reduces productivity, high medical bills due to health conditions, increased costs due to terminal benefits and many more,” Ndabaneze remarked.
According to reactions from various employees, the program is essential especially to those who might be infected since they will get medical support at work hence improving their productivity.
“Indeed this program is interesting but my fear is a need for privacy for those affected, really this is an issue to consider or else people will be hesitant to go for the services,” noted Alpha Bundu.
Reacting on the matter Daniel Mwaura the SWAHAP regional coordinator assured the staff that confidentiality will be highly considered and that Tigo will only be given numbers of people infected but not their names.
“We have a contract with Tigo and among our terms is not to disclose the names of people infected. What we will disclose is the number of people they should support financially, the funds will be channeled through our organization in order to assist those who are in need of help,” said Mwaura.
He also added that there will be a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) tent in the company’s compound which will offer services related to testing HIV/AIDS, counseling and awareness of the pandemic.
Leave a Reply