Maharashtra State gets positive on its HIV staff

[Guest guest]

State gets positive on its HIV staff

Seema I Kamdar

Wednesday, January 03, 2007. Maharashtra's First: An AIDS policy for

over 25 lakh government workers

MUMBAI: For the first time in the country, the Maharashtra government

will put into place a comprehensive HIV/AIDS policy for its 25 lakh-

plus staff. The draft policy, which is expected to be cleared by the

Cabinet this month, envisages non-discrimination at workplaces and

free medical attention whenever needed among other things.

The purpose behind unveiling the policy, said public health secretary

Vijay Satbir Singh, is to provide a conducive atmosphere to those of

the state government's employees who may be suffering from the

disease. As few people disclose their HIV-positive status at the

workplace, the government has no idea how many of its employees are

affected.

Applicable to 22 lakh state government employees and around three

lakh employees in various public sector units, the policy permits an

HIV-positive patient to avail of more sick leave if he needs it,

promises confidentiality, seeks to involve his family in counselling

and therapy, and aims at working out individual workplace

intervention programmes according to the need of the department.

Sentinel surveillance (surveys of high-risk group studies and ante-

natal cases) shows an HIV prevalence of one per cent in Maharashtra.

" The state government has a strong commitment to the HIV-positive

population. Through our own employees, we're hoping to reach out to

many more affected people,'' Singh said. The young population,

between 15 and 49 years, is more vulnerable and therefore the target

of HIV prevention programmes.

" Studies show that economic growth is often affected by the disease

as was evident in South Africa, " he said. The policy is based on

guidelines developed by the International Labour Organisation — `ILO

code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work' — and

incorporates inputs from the National Aids Control Organisation, and

the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

It entails no HIV screening, continuation of employment, prevention,

care and support, and " reasonable accommodation " . The last clause is

a bit revolutionary for a public office — it could include

rearrangement of working time, special equipment if

necessary, " opportunities for rest breaks, time off for medical

appointments, flexible sick leave, part-time work and return-to-work

arrangement''.

Grievance redressal and disciplinary procedures are also built into

the policy. It says that women suffer more, and offers up the

facilities at the 676 integrated Counselling and Testing Centres in

Maharashtra for any employee who wishes to screen himself or get

treated.

" We will not force them to undergo HIV testing but if anybody wants

to, we'll encourage them to do so at any of these centres,'' Singh

said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1072637