The Durban University of Technology’s Employee Assistance Programme in the Human Resources Department hosted a staff workshop intended to educate all staff members on issues around HIV/AIDS in the workplace as well as their communities.

In South Africa, one third (68 percent) of the country’s population is living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr Sandy Pillay from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Enhancing Care Initiative (ECI) said South Africa has the world’s largest number of people who are infected with the HIV virus. Titled Management of HIV, Dr Pillay took staff members through the process of infection and what happens to one’s immune system once infected.

Where South Africa is in terms of treatment and where it is headed in terms of a cure, which he said should be discovered within the next 15 years, were some of the highlights of Dr Pillay’s talk. He also emphasised the Abstain Be faithful and Condomise (ABC) prevention rule, saying that behavioral change must play a role in eradicating HIV/AIDS.

Practicing attorney Joanne Phillips was another speaker at the workshop. She highlighted rights of HIV infected employees, saying that being HIV positive does not warrant a dismissal.

“HIV/AIDS should be treated like any other disease. An employer can (only) dismiss an employee based on three major grounds; that being misconduct, poor work performance and incapacity (arising from ill health or injury)” she said.

The programme ended off on a high note with a play produced by Arley’s Workshop, an art and culture non-profit organisation which promotes HIV/AIDS awareness through theatre. The production used puppets and had the slogan it’s you, it’s me, it’s HIV.

Oziel Mdletshe; DUT Health Promoter and HIV/AIDS Activist facilitated a group discussion about the way forward on HIV/AIDS education.

– Nomvula Sikakane

Caption: Attorney Joanne Phillips at the DUT Employee Assistance Programme HIV/AIDS workshop.