Talk:Ipyet/HIV/AIDS and Enterprise Sustainability
Discussions for HIV/AIDS and Enterprise Sustainability will take place here as moderated by Victor Mensah.
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Contents
| Thread title | Replies | Last modified |
|---|---|---|
| Does HIV and AIDS affect the ability of the individual to work? | 23 | 08:39, 21 April 2011 |
| So what next? | 12 | 08:34, 21 April 2011 |
| EXPERIENCES | 16 | 02:07, 16 April 2011 |
| Impacts on Youth Enterprises | 13 | 22:20, 1 April 2011 |
| Does HIV/AIDS Affect work. | 2 | 21:03, 15 March 2011 |
Welcome to this module.
Does HIV and AIDS affect the ability of an individual to work? Argue as freely as possible.
In the initial stage there will be a psychological effects which will definitely affects the work life of HIV positive individual. Given some measures like supportive approach/roles from other colleagues and family members, and provisions of regular monitoring individual’s state of health and special care for HIV affected individual ,will not make that significant different on their ability to perform
Thank you Ekanath for your views. What do other members say?
Ekanath, I agree with you perfectly that the initial moments may be psychologically challenging because, that is the period others my shun away from you and even talk negatively about you.
Hi Victor, This is quit a controversial issue. Allow me to quote an old adage that says "A healthy nation is a wealthy nation." end quote Without doubt good health is an important aspect of wealth creation(work). Healthy individuals are able to work longer hours compared to their less healthy counterparts. This is true not only concerning HIV/AIDS but with all other diseases. However, may I be quick to state that this is not to mean that people living with HIV/AIDS cannot/should not work.
In Africa alone, the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic are there for all of us to see. Nations are being robed of energetic and productive youth. Our message should therefore be to encourage young people to protect themselves from acquiring the deadly virus, while encouraging those that are already infected to live positive lives. Be-The-Best!
off course Susiku, this is indeed a controversial issue but nonetheless worthy of discussion. I am intentionally not commenting at this moment of the content of submissions because we want to hear all sides of the arguments. Wonderful comments though.
Class, send through more views.
Susiku,
I agree that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Of course your contribution is valid
Hi All,
HIV if well managed may not prevent an individual from working, but it may reduce productivity. The extent to which it reduces productivity depends on how often the individual experiences episodes of associated illness. However, if HIV is not well managed and it is progressing to AIDS, certainly it will affect the individual's ability to work. This is why it is important for enterprises or work places to invest in creating awareness on HIV/AIDS, because prevention, early detection and proper management will reduce the effect of HIV/AIDS on workers’ productivity.
Dear class, in the nut-shell, the question was, "does HIV/AIDS (or for that matter any illness) affect the ability of people to work?".
Almost all members have responded in the affirmative so far. The caviat however is whether the effect is so debilitating and so negatively constant that we NOTHING can be done about it. This question was just a teaser and allows us to explore "what impact HIV/AIDS has on businesses" and WHAT interventions businesses should take to ensure that:
- Businesses still are sustainable
- Businesses still maintain a humane side
firstly, let us discuss our experiences of
- persons with HIV/AIDS at the workplace (no names or companies please), and
- workplace programmes we are aware of
Whether or not HIV and AIDS affects one's ability to work depends on a number of factors such as the stage of the disease and the kind of support systems in place. Where counselling and testing services are available, backed with availability of treatment, an individual with HIV can work like any other. This is because the disease can be managed just like diabetes.
In societies where HIV is highly stigmatised, people are likely to shun testing and therefore not get treatment at the right time. This then affects their ability to work
Hi Victor,
The answer is YES for affected individual and NO to unaffected individual. HIV is a menance which naturally affect individual depending on the level of the person's awareness. However, the body soldiers of an individual's is naturally created to protect the body(IMMUNE SYSTEM)to fight germs and if that is not done as a result of the virus, this then open door for attack from other illness (diseases) and once that is done, the person becomes affected. This generally affect the individual at whatever taskgiven to him/her, though its start gradually. At the early HIV stage productivity at work may not be retarded but the psychological trauma of the person if care is not given would affecthis/her productivity. All this depend on the individual CD4 count. The psychology of the individual has to do with his/her thinking and reasoning ability. However, people around the person can help him/her with care and support. The individual can also help himself by attending clinics and seminar.
Hello Colleagues, This is really a thought-provoking question. General effects of HIV and AIDS on an individual's ability to work may not be seen immediate depending on the state of the victims condition especially in the early stages. Initially, victims may take drugs to alleviate their health challenges and promote their physically activeness but in the long term an with time, the ability of an individual to work will be seriously affected (negatively). It may go beyond businesses but we can all agree to the fact that almost all livelihoods depend on businesses/ enterprises one way or the other. One thing leads to another. When the producer is been affected by HIV and AIDS, he will lose the strength to improve on production and on other hand, when the consumer is also been affected by HIV and AIDS, he may divert his finances into treatment and we can all agree here that HIV and AIDS drugs are very expensive. Effects of HIV and AIDS on an individual's ability to work may be very adverse because declining productivity results in declining profits and inability to meet demands from customers. (Module 4.1: HIV/AIDS and Sustainability of Youth Enterprises, A discussion paper by Victor P. K. Mensah page 10). --Kafuiaheto 16:33, 14 March 2011 (UTC)
It does if an individual is not receiving treatment, support and counselling. It is important for workplaces to have good workplace HIV & AIDS policies that offer support to individuals living with HIV and AIDS.
Hi all,
The issue of HIV and AIDS is one of the most controvential topics in the sense that there are various factors and issues that raises dust. Now to answer to the question as to whether HIV and AIDS affects an individual’s ability to work I can say both yes and no. When someone is just HIV positive their status does not affect their work as long as they keep themselves well, avoid stress and live a healthy and positive life. HIV and AIDS only becomes a problem when an individual becomes constantly sick and absent from the work place. It becomes a problem and its costly both for the individual and the organisation.
Yes to some extent and this mostly depends on how often the person infected will experiencing times or episodes HIV/AIDS related illnesses. Samuel.
Victor
While I appreciate that this is a sensitive issue and comments here may be used to judge our respective sensitivity to the issue of AIDS, I say that HIV/AIDS affects the ability of an individual to work especially if the individual is not living positively; it is a known fact that where stigma is high in society, the AIDS patient developes lack of interest for life and this may lead to erosion of the general motivation to succeed in life which is a major attribute of an enterprenuer.
Therefore, unless we do not want to face facts, AIDS affects the ability of an individual to work; both emotionally and physically at a later stage of the disease.
Hi Victor,
Yes to some extent if didn’t manage well but the psychological trauma, the depression and inferiority will cause reduction in productivity and individuals ability to work. NO when counseling, other services are available and people around the person can also help with care and support.
HIV and Aids do affect the ability of an individual to work. this depends on how the individual responds to the situation,if the person leaves positively then the effect will be just like any other ailment.
Hi every one, HIV/AIDS really affects the ability of an individual to work since the condition incacitates .As this condition frequently keeps the individual most of time either in hospital or at home the job suffers. Since health is wealth, the HIV/AIDS infected individual cannot boast of making the desired returno on his investment.Any enterprise should be taken seriously if at all the desired goals are to achieved.
Hello everyone,
HIV and AIDS affects the ability of an individual to work at the stage where they are feeling sick. However, once an individual knows thier ststus and start treatment they are healthy and can work just like anybody else. They should however take care of thier diet and general physical fitness so that they reduce the times they are sick.--Smauye 13:03, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
Hi
In the case where someone is suffering full blown AIDS, it incapacitates the individual from doing their work properly. This has an impact on productivity.
But we need to be aware that car accidents, stroke and even TB can incapacitate people and reduce their productivity. Why is AIDS an extreme case?
Many thanks for your contributions so far.
So what will you advice youth entrepreneurs to do? What INNOVATIVE measures and programmes should they implement in their small businesses?
Hi Colleaques,
My advice to youth entrepreneurs are :
- To go for Voluntary Counselling and Testing to know their HIV status
- Learn about the diseases and how to take care of themselves
- Learn to live positively and with others
- Get information about treatment option
- Protect against infection to themselves and other in the family
- Referral to support group and to share problems and solution with other people infected with HIV
- Feel relieved and stop worrying when tested
- Learn how to protect yourself from HIV
- Encourage other youth to go for Voluntary Counselling and Testing
The innovatives measures and programme to implment in small businesses are:
The youth should includes the following suggestions to their programmes:
- Start to educate others about HIV/AIDS
- Support and encourage everyone (youth and others)to support HIV/AIDS prevention programme
- Talk about the risk of HIV/AIDS and other STIs
- Explain that condoms may help to save lives fromHIV/AIDS and other Sexuall Transmitted Infections
- Explain that the condom protect the health of both partners invoved
- Support People Living With HIV/AIDS(PLWHA) so that they can live a happy life
- Keep away from having sexual intercourse with someone whose lifestyle gives questionable
- Avoid alcohol or drugs
- Treat HIVAIDS as any other illness in terms of employment and health policies and practices
- Involve People Living With HIV/AIDS(PLWHA) into the development and appraisal of HIV/AIDS policies and programme
I would advise youth entrepreneurs to realise that HIV is real and that it affects them whether they are infected or not. They must endeavour to have information on what services are available in their locality.
If their businesses employ others, they must have some HIV and AIDS policy to support the employees who are infected or affected to minimise absenteeism and maximise production
It is sad that people have been sacked from their firms because they have disclosed to their employers that they have HIV/AIDS. People have been ejected from their homes because they have HIV not even aids. Some Colleges do not admit some students because they have HIV. We need stringent policy and proper education on the disease to enable us help others and support them. As young we teach young entrepreneurs, we need to emphasize on empathy and the natural law of do unto others, what you expect them to do unto you.
I would advise youths to:
- form peer groups in their enterprises. this for them to discuss any HIV & AIDS related issues and offer each support if living with HIV & AIDS
- ensure that being healthy is taken seriously in their enterprises. This should incorporate good nutrition, exercise and hygiene
- have a sound HIV & AIDS policy to guide their enterprises.
Hi All,
My advice to Youth entrepreneurs would be that they should develop an HIV/AIDS workplace programme. The Programme should focus on creating awareness, through the use of Information Education Communication materials (IEC), and other awareness creation strategies. The programme should also incorporate Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services or at least it should provide information on available VCT centres in the locality. It should also provide information on available support in the locality for those who may test positive.
The youth entrepreneurs can also seek for collaboration and support from NGOs, government institutions, and development partners to assist with their workplace programmes, in cases where they lack the capacity and resources to design and implement an HIV/AIDS workplace programme.
1. Should discussions on HIV/AIDS be incorporated into the course? Why?
Yes, discussions on HIV/AIDS should be incorporated into the course
-They have to understand the effects of HIV/AIDS in their business, and develop strategies that address the challenges and effects that are caused by HIV /AIDS example like HIV awareness workshops for his/her employees. It will ensure that employees get adequate information on HIV/AIDS prevention and care from the workplace, where they spend a greater amount of their time daily. It will also safeguard businesses from low productivity which may result from high morbidity and mortality due to HIV/AIDS -Young people are the most vulnerable group to HIV/AIDS, because this is the group which more sexual active, this is the group through which some are looking for partners to marry, some are learning new and more things are about sexuality, one thing that I have realized is that people who are in business with money turn to be engaged in more sexual activities get to have more multi-concurrent partners due to the power of the money they have ,hence exposing themselves to high rates of catching up the HIV virus ,therefore they need to know more about HIV /AIDS and fact that it affects everyone , and there is no human being who is resistant to HIV.
2. Make a presentation to them on the impacts of HIV/AIDS on Businesses, especially on a Small Business (youth enterprise) like the ones they intend to set up. <just give them a graphic picture of HOW HIV/AIDS effects the various aspects (or production elements) of their business.> • Understanding young people’s Situation of HIV/AIDS • Differences between HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections and other diseases • The difference between Sign and Symptoms of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection • Myths about HIV /AIDS • How one can get infected with HIV and how he/she can infect others. • HIV re-infection while one is HIV positive • Things that puts one at high risk of HIV infection • Different methods of HIV prevention mechanism • Voluntary Testing and counseling for HIV/AIDS • HIV/AIDS in the workplace • Care and Support for Affected Person
I agree with Sang, we require more information on HIV/AIDS in talking about it from a qualified people. Besides, we need to read more about it from published documents. But care should be taken by the youth in order not to contract HIV/AIDS.
Dear coogues, Iwill advise the youth to get the right information about HIV/AIDS , preferably , from a qualified medical personnel becuase information is power
Hi
Knowledge is power and information enriches the mind. Youths need to get properly trained in HIV/AIDS psycho-social counselling to have a better understanding of things. I would encourage youths to encourage HIV/AIDS sensitisation as part of their business i.e. for the employees and also for customers e.g. information leaflets in the office.
Definitely, HIV/AIDS may not affect an individual at the immediate point of contraction. But the information I have indicate that if one does not engage in proper life after its contraction, he or she would get weaker and weaker by the the time and day. It could affect the individuals energy level, time to visit the clinic, money to spend on drugs can affect the financial position of the business.
Kindly discuss your experiences of
- persons with HIV/AIDS at the workplace (no names or companies please),
- How did you become aware they are living with HIV/AIDS if any?
- Have you "suspected" colleagues of being HIV/AIDS?
- what kinds of "talk in the corridors" exist in a workplace about staff members living with HIV/AIDS
- workplace programmes we are aware of
On experiences, well we only get to know about people living with HIV/AIDS in the workplace when the person falls ill suddenly, often the individual gets admitted in the hospital and may not return to work for a long time, some return and show obvious signs of the illness and try to manage the illness and still contribute at the workplace, while some may lose their lives and never return.
This indicates that victims themselves only become aware of their HIV/AIDS status when they fall ill suddenly and are unable to recover for a long time and so have to be away from work, while the workplace may get informed by the victim's long absence as a result of the illness.
Workplace reaction is usually pity and sadness, people actually feel sad to see a colleague go down with HIV/AIDS, and it is painful to see the physical manifestation of the illness.
Workplace programme in my place of work is not effective; there is a unit in place but no impact.
I know of an officer in some government Ministry who decided to go public about her being HIV positive and advocated that her employer begins to pay for ARVs for anyone requiring treatment at a time the drugs were not stocked by government hospitals. Management in this Ministry started paying for treatment of all those who disclosed their status. These infected officers began to have talks with the rest of the Ministry personnel about the need to test and seek treatment.
In terms of "talk in the corridors" those living with HIV and AIDS are called all sorts of names, usually in local languages, which are degrading
Hi,
I had an experienced with a colleaque whom later died of the menance. She was doing fine- healthwise, suddenly she started missing work, complaining of malaria and weaknesses. She was an inteligent colleague with high efficiency. However, with the complained, she was still coming to work with little inputs. She started losing weight and losing appetitte. Little did we( colleaques) noticed , until when she was addmitted severally in the hospital that we (colleaques) started talking on the corridor. Some of us suspected and believed while some did not believe. It went on as suspected until a day she shared with us in the office that a senior colleaque advised her to go for HIV test. According to her story, that she has done the test, but could not disclose to us the result. She later became seriously ill and was not longer coming to office, (that was after one and half year). The symtoms came out on her as few did visited and called , that led to more discussion on the corridor. It continued till her death.
Personally I have not yet experienced any person with HIV or AIDS at work but to digress a little bit, I experienced one in my neighbourhood.
Dear all,
Sorry to join the training at such a late stage, I was in the field and on the road for over three weeks and had no internet connectivity. I hope it will be in order to join.
On this question, I have had experiences not necessary a work place but have worked with people who were HIV positive. The first experience I had was at a former working place (an NGO) I had been given an assignment of attending a meeting/workshop where various people and organizations would be present and I will always remember this experience as it was the first time I had been exposed to such a scenario from someone I hardly knew. Upon attending this workshop I sat down next to a gentleman and we started talking and he just out rightly told me in our local language ‘mwaiche, ifwe kaliyaka, ifwe tula toppinga’ meaning ‘young person, I am HIV positive and I take ARVs’. I was shocked because no one had ever come out so openly about their status and from that day we have been good friends. A second experience I had was when I had gone for practical training as requirement for a psyco social counselling course some two years ago. I was doing my practicals at a local peri urban clinic and one of the counsellors revealed his status during the counselling session of a client.
In my former work place, yes there were colleagues I suspected was HIV positive but never got confirmation.
In every work place there is always corridor talks about people who are living with the virus and usually it is not pleasant. However, the ever growing trends of workplace HIV & AIDS policies have reduced some of the evil vices.
Mwaba
HIV/AIDS is one key vice that is inflicting on human kind and impacting negative on almost all the developmental agenda that is realized through human intervention and effort are evolved.
Suspecting my friends at a workplace has been always the first thing that we do even though we may not confirm. Some colleague was continues in and out of hospital. Loosing weight drastically and above all, rash on his body made us all at our work place to conclude before confirming that our colleague might is have been infected.
Work place program include but not restricted to
- Wearing t-shirts every Friday depicting AIDS Message
- Carryout a sensitization program every after 3months ,with a view of encouraging our staff to go for VCT
- Encourage atmosphere that does not discriminate but rather protects every individual based on their capacity to deliver than status
- Encourage everyone to realign their thinking to the ideology that if not infected than you are affected
- Encourage those who are infected to take A RVs consistently
May God Bless Vic
Hello Friends I for one have not had a direct personal experience with persons living with HIV/AIDS revealing their status,but have been exposed to people gossiping about someone who they suspect to have the HIV/AIDS without much proof especially if one has been constantly sick,suspecting someone is obvious,i agree that i fallen prey to that. Corridor talks about people living with the HIV/AIDS are common especially if someone has not revealed his/her status,i feel its important to reveal your status and this could only be known by going for VCTs which i believe some companies have policies on HIV/AIDS.
Samuel.
Great comments and contributions from you all. Two things are evident from the comments you have all made:
- Majority of us know people/colleagues who have suffered from HIV/AIDS and its attendant challenges in the workplace currently or before.
- the disease have (in some way) affected their work/productivity
- a lot of talk about HIV/AIDS in the work place are indeed "corridor talks", gossips, or assumptions. Most of theses are indeed derogatory.
What i have noticed is the fact that most of you have even shied away from mentioning the exact words people have used.
Almost ALL of us are then affected by HIV/AIDS. Our colleagues being infected or affected by HIV/AIDS can have a great impact on their productivity, our perceptions and thinking, and eventually, our productivity too. Let us consider these impacts in the next discussions even as we continue to share our experiences under this topic.
Great comments and contributions from you all. Two things are evident from the comments you have all made:
- Majority of us know people/colleagues who have suffered from HIV/AIDS and its attendant challenges in the workplace currently or before.
- the disease have (in some way) affected their work/productivity
- a lot of talk about HIV/AIDS in the work place are indeed "corridor talks", gossips, or assumptions. Most of theses are indeed derogatory.
What i have noticed is the fact that most of you have even shied away from mentioning the exact words people have used.
Almost ALL of us are then affected by HIV/AIDS. Our colleagues being infected or affected by HIV/AIDS can have a great impact on their productivity, our perceptions and thinking, and eventually, our productivity too. Let us consider these impacts in the next discussions even as we continue to share our experiences under this topic.
Helo, I have worked with people with HIV/IDS.(former workplace) I must admit that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to identify someone who is only an HIV positive, but not necessarily having fully blown AIDS, unless they themselves tell you. It is however easier to know that someone has AIDS when they begin to exhibit signs and symptoms when their immune system begins to fail them.
1. I became aware abt one of my former colleagues HIV/AIDS status after observing sings of continuous sickness. i then ask them abt their health status and they confirmed to me that they were positive.
My answer to question #1.2 is YES!
The talk is not always good though at times sympathy is exercised.
- 2 at my work place we have an HIV/AIDS policy. The training institutions belonging to the ministry also have institutional policies.
- 1 the kind of "talk in the corridors" is that someone was promiscuous even when there is no evidence to that effect. It could have been just one incidence of unprotected sex that could have led to acquiring of HIV/AIDS.
Particpants may wish to read a Report on the Study Visit Between Botswana & Zambia On the Mainstreaming of HIV & AIDS in TEVET Institutions (2006). It can be accessed from: http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/fileadmin/user_upload/pubs/HIV_AIDS_BOTA.pdf
Kenyatta University do have a unit dealing specifically with HIV AIDS, me personally i have not gotten in touch with one in my work place who is positive. i have only been haring rumors that so and so has it.
Hello collgues, I became aware when all the symptons of HIV/AIDS became manifest. I have also had cause to suspect one or two collegues of being IV/AIDS positive when they started manifesting the symptons of the disorder. The type of talks about people living with HIV/AIDS are synical,and derogatory
Hello everyone, I became aware of one collegue when they became sick and were not getting well despite getting cough medicine. They started wasting and isolating themselves from the team. I suspected that he had HIV because of the symptoms. I was in a position to advise, so I suggested that he take a test. He was not happy with the suggestion, but later went privately. Staff were gissiping about his own stigmatisation because the company had a good HIV policy and a nomber of staff were taking advantage of it.--Smauye 13:07, 15 April 2011 (UTC)
Our colleagues being infected or affected by HIV/AIDS can have a great impact on their productivity, our perceptions and thinking, and eventually, our productivity too.
SCENARIO:
You are training young people in Entrepreneurship.
- Should discussions on HIV/AIDS be incorporated into the course? Why?
- Make a presentation to them on the impacts of HIV/AIDS on Businesses, especially on a Small Business (youth enterprise) like the ones they intend to set up. <just give them a graphic picture of HOW HIV/AIDS effects the various aspects (or production elements) of their business.>
In the current context, this should be the major cross cutting issues especially for small scale enterprises .if they do not include these issues there may be many implications on their business like; Low productivity, customers concern on quality, extra cost for insurance and safety net issues and discriminations and work disruption ,after all those issues will make MSMES unsustainable
Thank you Ekanath. What do other members think?
Hi All
YES!! I strongly believe that HIV& AIDS should be incorporated in the course reasons’ being that the pandemic has become part of our daily lives and we are faced with the harsh reality that if one is not infected then they are affected. I also believe that the people and especially youth do not know much about the pandemic and through the training they are able to overcome their deepest fears and get answers to questions they fail to ask under normal circumstances. I also believe that there is a strong desire by the youth to learn more about the disease. I can attest to this through personal experience. I have been training youth in Gender and entrepreneurship using the ILO training package since 2008 and although the training package did not incorporate the HIV and AIDS component in it. I took the initiative of including it as part of the training. At the end of the training package before evaluations facilitate on HIV and AIDS as well as Human Rights and Childrens Rights. And it was through these most heated and interesting discussions that I realised that HIV and AIDS should be incorporated. Hence, I would strongly like to recommend the HIV and AIDS component in this course.
Presentation
I would begin this particular session by asking participants into groups where they would answer to questions like:
1. What is HIV? 2. What is AIDS? 3. What are some of the ways in which one can be infected by HIV? 4. What are the modes of prevention? 5. Is circumcision the answer to reduced HIV infections? 6. How does HIV & AIDS affect their businesses as youth? 7. How do we youth protect ourselves from the pandemic?
From the presentations one is able to know where to start from on the presentation thereby drawing the participants into discussions that would highlight issues, myths, belief and what reality is. I would also present to them the dangers of multiple concurrent partners, the importance of knowing ones status and how HIV & AIDS not only robs them of the much needed necessary financial resources, but also the their time but end their lives at their most productive stage.
Thanks
Incorporation of HIV/AIDS lessons into Training Young People in Entrepreneurship I think YES. Because,
- these young ones are the future of the world.
- they will form the future human and knowledge resource for individual countries and the world at large. If they are not aware now, we may lose most of them to the menace. Our greatest resources will be wasted to the drain.
- today, young people are agents of change and we need to build capacity to fight HIV and AIDS. They are capable of being peer educators so trainings of such nature will be a platform for them to learn more about the menace and also about modern methods of delivering HIV and AIDS education to others.
- they can also be in the position to educate or even counsel elderly people in society such as parents through youth advocacy work. In Ghana now, the youth are beginning to enjoy attention for government and civil organisations since are becoming aware of their potentials and capabilities. That is why I personally comment the organisers of IPYET for creating this platform to also talk about HIV and AIDS.
Making a presentation to them on the impacts of HIV/AIDS on Businesses, especially on a Small Business It is praiseworthy to give a presentation on HIV and AIDS on the impacts of HIV/AIDS on Businesses.
- As Confucius the Chinese philosopher & reformer puts it "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." I see that the impression of presentation will be stronger especially if it goes beyond mere presentation. Graphic presentations, video shows and other forms of presentations like role play etc. will help such participants to understand and appreciate the need to continue advocacy work on HIV and AIDS and to also help their personal development. Of course, small businesses (youth enterprises) are sources of livelihood to so many people and a presentation will go a long way to inform, educate and communicate better on their impact on small businesses (youth enterprises)
Dear all,
Unfortunately, we experienced a very rear technical outage on the wikieducator servers yesterday at about 16:00UTC. Things are back online now. It has only been restored backward up to 12:00UTC. If you made a contribution and it is still not showing here, please do so again. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Hi All,
1.Yes, discussions on HIV/AIDS should be incorporated into the course, but not just HIV/AIDS, other issues that promote health and well being such as exercise, rest and leisure etc should also be included because they promote a healthy mind and body which is essential for business success.
Discussions on HIV/AIDS is important because it will ensure that employees get adequate information on HIV/AIDS prevention and care from the workplace , where they spend a greater amount of their time daily. It will also safeguard businesses from low productivity which may result from high morbidity and mortality due to HIV/AIDS.
2. Presentation: The impact of HIV/AIDS on business operations is a factor that every entrepreneur should take seriously. HIV/AIDs associated illness can reduce productivity of staff, and death resulting HIV/AIDS could mean loss of valuable contribution and a drain on the psychology of other employees, which could also affect productivity.
The impact of HIV/AIDS is greater on small businesses, because they have small number of employees. Therefore, when an employee in a small business goes down with HIV/AIDS, it will affect productivity more.
To safeguard business from the effect of HIV/AIDS, every entrepreneur, especially SMEs should ensure that there is an HIV/AIDS workplace programme in place. The workplace programme should focus on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support
Dear Colleaques,
YES.
NEEDS FOR HIV/AIDS FOR YOUTH IN ENTREPRENEUR. The need to have HIV/AIDS Course contents for the Youth in Entrepreneur programme are AS follows:
Youth are vulnerable in nature to abuse,exploitation, unintended pregnancy,Sexual Transmitted Infection (STIs) and HIV
- Youth approach adulthood with conflicting and confusing messages about sexuality and gender
- Youth like adventure in life (trial period)
- They are sexual active group
- Youth are the pride of any nation
- They contribute to the development of any nation
- They are the major workforce of any growing nation
- They are extremely vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection with a prevalence rate of 5.2% in Nigeria
- Almost 50% of all new HIV infections are among young people (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 2004)
- Youth can create demand and provide HIV information and life skills as peer educators
Presentations on HIV/AIDS Programmes on Youth in Entrepreneur The following are my suggestions on programmes for Small Entrepreneur on HIV/AIDS which are mainly on ‘The Principles, Methods, Prevention, Treatment and Management’.
- Understanding HIV and AIDS -Situation of HIV/AIDS in the world
- Differences between HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Sign and Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infection
- Wrong Beliefs about Cure and Treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS
- How to Get and Spread HIV/AIDS
- Habits that increases the Risk of Getting infected with AIDS Virus
- Building a strong Defense against HIV/AIDS
- Methods of HIV Transmission and Prevention Management of AIDS -Signs and Symptoms of HIV/AIDS
- How To Prevent Getting Infected with HIV Virus
- Methods of Preventing HIV Infection
- Voluntary Testing for HIV/AIDS
- Pregnancy and HIV/AIDS
- Care and Support for Affected Person
- Being Your Sisters and Brothers Keeper
- Note: Some of the above topics can be diagrammatically illustrated with pictures for simplicity of terms
Hi Victor & team, Im really loving the discussions. YES! Discussions on HIV/AIDS must be included in the course. The Sub-Sahara region is the most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the world. And as indicated by other participants, youths and young women are the most affected group. As young leaders, we should therefore be taught how to best handle and manage this topic so that we present it in the best way possible. It would also be very important for us to approach the subject with level headedness bearing in mind that some of our colleagues participating in this training could actually be infected. Let charity begin at home<smile>
Be-The-Best!
Yes discussions on HIV/AIDS be incorporated into the course. This is because:
- HIV/AIDS has a great impact on enterprises due to loss of production hours when someone is sick or goes for treatment or attends funerals.
- HIV/AIDS is normally attached with a lot of stigma, so there is need to openly discuss methods of prevention of acquistion and transmission of HIV/AIDS.
- HIV/AIDS has affected a lot of youths and hence the need to be continually senstised on how it is transmitted and how it can be managed if acquired.
Presentation
I would give this quote:
“AIDS is uniquely destructive to economies, because it kills people in the prime of their lives. Especially in its early stages, the epidemic tends to strike urban centres, the better educated, the elite in leadership and the most productive members of society. These deaths leach profits out of businesses and economies. There are already several examples of the enormous impact which corporate action can have in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They exist both in the workplace, which is one of the most effective places to educate and reach people, and in global efforts through advocacy, in-kind support, engagement with partners and direct donations.” Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, 12/01/2004
And ask the youth entrepreneurs to discuss by giving examples from their communities and enterprises.
1. Yes. It should be incorporated into the course. With our department before entrepreneurs are trained, they fill the entry form and in it there is a question that ask if they think HIV/AIDS has an impact on Business. They answers we get show that there is a lot to be shared with young people about it. If such discussions are incorporated then entrepreneurs will have new thinking about HIV/AIDS, make new plans and establish new approaches.
2. THIS IS WHAT I DO WITH MY TRAINEES I give them hand outs of case studies about HIV/AIDS at work place. We discuss them and provide some information. I also invite employees from the National Aids Council (NAC) to do presentation about HIV/AIDS and Entrepreneurship. At the Youth Centre I use to conduct trainings there are Peer Educators and HIV Counseling and Testing Unit which few of the trainees visit after or during trainings.
Some how it does but not so much depending with the person affected handles it, however, it affects one the people who have not accepted that HIV/AIDS is just like an other disease someone can have. In our society AIDS affected people are discriminated and they feel uncomfortable to be associated with others and this leads to early deaths. Moreover, just as an illness affects the ability of an individual HIV/AIDS affects the ability to fully participate in a number of work related activities. My comments does not mean we should not work with people who are HIV/AIDS infected but we should support them and work with them and provide the needed care and Support. Remember if You are Not Infected than you are Affected.
To a large extent it can affect work because the infected persons are kept away from work due to failed health whilst the affected (that family members /friends) are kept away from work tending to the sick. This is most felt on those that are in informal employment as the financial resources are drained. However, this does not mean that the infected persons cannot work as rightly said by Cxluchembe.
It does affect,especially if the person living with it has not accepted,that person tends to live in isolation and despair.
