By ALMA ANONAS-CARPIO
DateLine Philippines

The Department of Health (DOH) has announced that it supports efforts to curb HIV infections in the workplace after the Philippines witnessed a sharp increase in the number of diagnosed HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases over the last three years. Majority of these recorded cases belong to the country’s most economically-productive age group.

“In 2000, an average of one new case was diagnosed every three days,” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said. “In 2007, it rose to one new case per day. Last year, there were two new cases diagnosed in a day.”

Due to this rising trend of HIV infections and because most infections can be found among economically-productive individuals, Cabral said the business sector is in a position to help curb HIV infections by setting up policies and programs in the workplace. Such programs will also be in consonance with the provisions of Republic Act 8504 or the AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.

Cabral said HIV/AIDS programs in the workplace are a vital response because the disease increases business costs, such as an increased burden of healthcare provision, lower productivity from infected employees, loss of skilled workers, increased risks in the workplace and indifference among employees.

The midterm assessment of the Philippine AIDS Medium Term Plan IV recommended the strengthening of partnerships with the private sector. However, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) noted in 2008 that private sector involvement and response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace has yet to be improved.

A few companies, led by Shell Philippines chairman Ed Chua, have taken on the role of “Business Champion for Health of the Philippines to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.” Following Chua’s lead, several companies signified interest in establishing their own “AIDS in the Workplace” programs.

Organizations supporting the “AIDS in the Workplace” program include PBSP, the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, the International Labor Organization (ILO), UNAIDS, and the Philippine National AIDS Council. A partnership agreement will be drawn up to describe the roles and responsibilities of each organization for this initiative.

“The rising number of HIV cases in the workforce makes it imperative for business to take drastic action to prevent new infections in the labor sector,“ Cabral said, adding that the tripartite workplace sector – including the government, management and labor sectors – should highlight interventions targeted at addressing risky behavior, because this sector also includes a vast number of customers and clients and may also include the most at-risk populations.

A one-day National HIV/AIDS Summit will be held on April 12 at the Manila Diamond Hotel to inform national leaders on the current state of HIV/AIDS in the country and the need for urgent action towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal 6, particularly HIV. The workplace sector is one of the sectors to attend this event.

The Department of Health (DOH) has announced that it supports efforts to curb HIV infections in the workplace after the Philippines witnessed a sharp increase in the number of diagnosed HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases over the last three years. Majority of these recorded cases belong to the country’s most economically-productive age group.

“In 2000, an average of one new case was diagnosed every three days,” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said. “In 2007, it rose to one new case per day. Last year, there were two new cases diagnosed in a day.”

Due to this rising trend of HIV infections and because most infections can be found among economically-productive individuals, Cabral said the business sector is in a position to help curb HIV infections by setting up policies and programs in the workplace. Such programs will also be in consonance with the provisions of Republic Act 8504 or the AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.

Cabral said HIV/AIDS programs in the workplace are a vital response because the disease increases business costs, such as an increased burden of healthcare provision, lower productivity from infected employees, loss of skilled workers, increased risks in the workplace and indifference among employees.

The midterm assessment of the Philippine AIDS Medium Term Plan IV recommended the strengthening of partnerships with the private sector. However, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) noted in 2008 that private sector involvement and response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace has yet to be improved.

A few companies, led by Shell Philippines chairman Ed Chua, have taken on the role of “Business Champion for Health of the Philippines to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.” Following Chua’s lead, several companies signified interest in establishing their own “AIDS in the Workplace” programs.

Organizations supporting the “AIDS in the Workplace” program include PBSP, the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, the International Labor Organization (ILO), UNAIDS, and the Philippine National AIDS Council. A partnership agreement will be drawn up to describe the roles and responsibilities of each organization for this initiative.

“The rising number of HIV cases in the workforce makes it imperative for business to take drastic action to prevent new infections in the labor sector,“ Cabral said, adding that the tripartite workplace sector – including the government, management and labor sectors – should highlight interventions targeted at addressing risky behavior, because this sector also includes a vast number of customers and clients and may also include the most at-risk populations.

A one-day National HIV/AIDS Summit will be held on April 12 at the Manila Diamond Hotel to inform national leaders on the current state of HIV/AIDS in the country and the need for urgent action towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal 6, particularly HIV. The workplace sector is one of the sectors expected to attend this event.