This years World AIDS Day commemoration fell on Thursday, December 1^st 2011. The global theme chosen to mark this year’s World AIDS Day was “Getting to Zero – Zero New infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths” which is carved out of the UNAIDS mandated theme of “Universal Access and Human rights”. The sub theme chosen for Ghana was “The role of the youth”. Ghana’s focus on the youth was aligned to the priorities in the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS 2011- 2015; most at risk populations (MARPS), individuals with multiple sexual partners and youth between the ages of 15 to 24.

Like other challenges in the contemporary business world HIV/AIDS is a factor that companies must now reckon with in their planning operations thus, CFAO sought to use the World AIDS Day to create HIV/AIDS awareness so as to reduce the number of staff who engage in risky sexual behavior, encourage healthy lifestyles through IEC/BCC materials distribution, and increase uptake of counseling and testing among staff in Greater Accra, Western and Ashanti regions of Ghana. Activities organized on that day were, HIV counseling and testing, wearing of red ribbons, condom distribution, and access to HIV/AIDS flyers and booklets. Before the beginning of the programme, a participatory forum on the topic “HIV prevention, care and support at the workplace: Successes, challenges and the way forward” was held.

At the end of the World AIDS day’s activities, 300 red ribbons were distributed, 3000 male condoms were given out for educational and personal use, 200 HIV branded wrist bands were handed out and 1507 IEC booklets and leaflets were handed out to staff and clients. It is hoped that these IEC/BCC booklets and leaflets would inform and educate staff about the disease and also protect them and their dependants against HIV infection. The overall goal of the CFAO HIV/AIDS workplace programme nevertheless is to reduce the prevalence and impact of HIV in the workforce and the wider community. To achieve this counseling and testing identified as key to behaviour change and prevention is an integral part of the CFAO strategy. The results from the counseling and testing exercise undertaken was also very encouraging as 50 people were tested at the Takoradi office, 15 people were tested at the Kumasi office, 38 people were tested at the Airport office, and 46 people were tested at the PPGL office and technologies office at circle industrial area. These are people who received their results after undergoing HIV pre and post test counseling. There were no positive cases at all sites. Different models of counseling and testing are available in Ghana i.e. outreach, integrated and stand alone testing and counseling however KEBA Africa employed the mobile or outreach CT because it is non-stigmatizing. Most of the clients tested were either single or married hence in future couple testing would be considered as a holistic approach to HIV prevention at CFAO.

On the whole, staff members showed great interest in the exercise although we must and keep the drive to change people’s attitudes about the epidemic and the stigma attached to HIV. Others just had irrational fear of HIV as a death sentence and did not want to find out their status. There is still work to be done to dispel the ignorance that drives HIV related stigma and educate people about HIV and the need to preserve the rights and dignity of people living with HIV.

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Like other challenges in the modern business world, the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS is having an increasingly adverse impact on the operations of many companies and employee households.  This has resulted in increase production cost, reduced profit and greater difficulty delivering products and services.

This is due  to the fact that for very workplace, the most priced resource id its human resource, thus when employees get infected  with HIV in the organization, a lot of productive man hours is lost as a result of employees getting sick leave.

Additionally HIV and AIDS can also have negative psychosocial efforts on employees who are infected or affected by HIV through stigmatization at the workplace. Thus, companies not only have a responsibility to act, but an opportunity to play a crucial role in the fight against the pandemic within the workplace.

Experience from ILO’s global workplace offers a unique entry point for providing access to HIV/STI education and service since workers  can be reached on a regular basis with tailored HIV/STI messages and behaviour change communication(BCC) programmes to address discrimination  and support behaviour change. Implementing workplace HIV programmes is also a reliable source of accurate information for employees.

In Ghana, institutions such as the ministries of education, finance and economic planning, CFAO Ghana LTTD, Shell Ghana, Cadbury Ghana among others have HIV/AIDS workplace policies and provide evidence –based data about what works and what does not work in  responding  to the pandemic at the workplace . Key elements of workplace HIV/AIDS programmes that has helped control the spread of the disease has  been conspicuous leadership which entails willingness by senior managers and board of directors to speak out on HIV/AIDS prevention and care regularly and frankly at the workplace. Support for responsible sexual behaviour among employees. Support for appropriate policies to address HIV/AIDS related situations that may arise at the workplace. Moral financial and resource support by the company for prevention and care programmes both within the workplace and surrounding communities and finally a commitment to sustain programmes overtime.

However there has been a general low uptake of workplace HIV/AIDS programmes among companies and institutions in the country. The low uptake is attributed to challenges in availability of funds in the era of global recession. Others also play the ostrich and ignore the disease with the hope that it will not affect their company, that HIV/AIDS affects only certain class or group of people, that infection is due to sinful or immoral behaviour and believe that because sexual relations do not occur in the workplace and the company is “protected” and that a vaccine will soon be found are clearly, options that do not work and may end up costing the company even more.

The way forward is to have a detailed workplace policy that entails

• Clear , non-technical information about HIV/AIDS for all employees, provided regularly and in a variety of formats
• Peer education and peer support ; using trained workers to inform one another about all aspects of HIV/AIDS
• Making condoms available in the workplace and encouraging availability in shops outside the workplace
• Diagnosing and treating STIs at workplace clinics, or encouraging workers to use effective services in the community
• Creating and sustaining an environment for changes in sexual behaviour-especially focused on youth and men with regular incomes, discouraging them from coercing  women or exploiting their poverty
• Voluntary and confidential HIV testing and pre and post –test counseling

Many companies hesitate to undertake an HIV/AIDS program because they believe they do not have the needed funds and expertise. Fortunately, numerous organizations now have the skills and experience in one or more components of workplace programs. Many of these organizations are willing to partner with companies to design a workplace program, train and support staff, provide medical commodities and access program effectiveness. Company managers can contact such groups and negotiate an acceptable agreement for delivery services. Examples of groups that can assist companies are NGOs: These groups often have the most cost effective strategies and direct experience in designing and implementing HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs. Thus we, have a solid basis on which to build new workplace HIV/AIDS programs or to expand existing ones.

The script was written by: Alfred Tsiboe-Darko of KEBA Africa

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1^st December every year is observed as World AIDS Day. The theme for this year is “Getting to Zero-Zero infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths. Like other challenges in the contemporary business world HIV/AIDS is a factor that companies must now reckon with in their planning operations.

The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS is having an increasingly adverse impact on the operations of many companies and employee households.

Whether a company operates in a low-prevalence country or a High-prevalence country, HIV/AIDS is now a factor that affects all managers, workers’ representatives and employees. HIV/AIDS also affects human resources management, employee welfare, operation efficiency and customer relations.

Many companies recognize the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a serious threat to productivity and profitability. Workplace HIV/AIDS provides practical steps for prevention and care programs that serve both employee and managers. Companies Human Resources Managers, Medical Officers and Union Representatives are the key personnel to developing and implementing workplace prevention and care programs.

Implementing workplace HIV/AIDS program has been proven to be the only source of accurate information employees have about HIV/AIDS.

Companies not only have a responsibility to act, but an opportunity to play a crucial role in global fight against the epidemic, particularly within their own workplaces. Companies who forge partnership tackle HIV/AIDS menace faster and more effectively than anyone else and it is in their own interest as well as those of the society as a whole.

Company leadership engaging in HIV/AIDS sensitization, providing counseling and testing, condom distribution access to care and treatment sends a strong message to governments and other sectors. In addition, companies have an unparalleled opportunity to tackle head on the stigma and discrimination that enabled the virus to spread, often unchecked, over the last twenty five years.

HIV /AIDS education programs inform employees at the workplace and seek to motivate behaviour change that will reduce the spread of the epidemic. Organizations formal and informal HIV/AIDS education activities are the base upon which other aspects of prevention programs are built.  Best practices abound in institutions such as the Ministries of Education, Finance and Economic Planning; Shell Ghana Limited and CFAO, among others with excellent HIV/AIDS workplace policy which provides unequivocal evidence.

Key elements of workplace HIV/AIDS programmes that has helped control the spread of the disease among these companies has  been conspicuous leadership which entails willingness by senior managers and board of directors to speak out on HIV/AIDS prevention and care regularly and frankly at  the workplace. Support for responsible sexual behaviour among employees. Support for appropriate policies to address HIV/AIDS related situations that may arise at the workplace. Moral, financial and resource support by the companies for prevention and care programmes both within the workplace and surrounding communities and finally a commitment to sustain programmes overtime.

Companies assuming that prevention programs are too expensive and a drain on company’s finances, that a vaccine will soon be found, that HIV/AIDS affects only a certain class or group of people, that it is someone else’s problem, that infections is due to sinful or immoral behaviour, ignoring the disease and hoping it will simply go away, believing that because sexual relations do not occur in the workplace and the company is “protected”, are but grave assumptions at the peril of the company.

Many companies hesitate to undertake an HIV/AIDS program because they believe they do not have the needed funds and expertise. Fortunately, numerous organizations now have the skills and experience in one or more components of workplace programs. Many of these organizations are willing to partner with companies to design a workplace program, train and support staff, provide medical commodities and access program effectiveness. Company managers can contact such groups and negotiate an acceptable agreement for delivery services. Examples of groups that can assist companies are NGOs: These groups often have the most cost effective strategies and direct experience in designing and implementing HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs. Thus we, have a solid basis on which to build new workplace HIV/AIDS programs or to expand existing ones.

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ITASO stands for The AIDS Support Organization. It is an indigenous HIV/AIDS service organization in Uganda founded in 1987 by Noerine Kaleeba and 15 other colleagues some of whom have now passed away due to AIDS. The founding of TASO was based on people that were unified by common experiences faced when encountering HIV/AIDS at a time of high stigma, ignorance and discrimination. From a small support group, TASO has since evolved into a Non Governmental Organization with eleven (11) service centers and four (4) regional offices covering most parts of Uganda.

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KEBA Africa believes that companies should use the World AIDS Day to create HIV/AIDS awareness among staff in the formal sector and to secure their future by promoting free confidential counseling and testing on Thursday, the 1^st of December 2011 which is World AIDS Day. In doing so companies would automatically adopt the Getting to Zero theme which is achievable so long as we all act positively and decisively.

Companies not only have a responsibility to act but an opportunity to play a crucial role in the fight against HIV/AIDS especially within their workplace simply because it may be the only source of accurate information workers will have about HIV/AIDS. Activities such as condom distribution, counseling and testing and access to HIV/AIDS flyers and booklets would send a strong message to staff that the company cares and values their contribution and importantly does not want to lose anyone.

Let’s be the change we want to see happen by organizing a World AIDS Day 2011 event!!

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A stigmatized person is one who possesses an undesired difference from members of mainstream society which leads society to discredit them. In ancient times persons with leprosy, paralysis or some disability may suffer stigmatization in many forms. Some societies in those days officially opposes racism, sexism, ageism, ableism and other types of prejudices and the unequal treatment of certain individuals. Outlawing discrimination, however, is seldom very successful in changing human behavior. Stigma, which is deep-seated can only be modified over a period of several generations even when laws and policies demand such change.

HIV/AIDS throughout history has become a disease of already stigmatized group. In the initial era of the epidemic in most countries, HIV infection is believe to  spread through sexual network of gay men, commercial sex workers, and injecting drug users. These marginalized groups were already heavily stigmatized by society and this prejudice were carried over and strengthened, when such individuals become identified as carriers of HIV. This double stigma of AIDS stemmed from the identification of AIDS as a serious illness and from the identification of AIDS with already stigmatized group. The deplorable nature of the disease was not something many families would embrace but to segregate the individual infected from the ordinary people in order to avoid others from been infected. In India in the 1980’s it was reported that AIDS patients were considered outcast from families and some were given places like separate huts to sleep in and were prevented from coming into contact with anyone. Such was the trend at which persons living with HIV/AIDS suffered.

Homosexual intercourse has often been blamed for starting the epidemic but one must also take a cursory look at sexual intercourse as a whole rather than blaming homosexual sex as a major mode of transmission. The reason to this supposed impression was basically, the fact that homosexual intercourse was not generally accepted in many societies and that many countries were trying as much as possible to halt the gay men relationships or men having sex with their fellow men.

HIV transmission in Ghana has not been different from that with other countries and the infection is known as primary through heterosexual intercourse and not the other way round and stigma to HIV/AIDS occurs as a result of family systems, ignorance, cultural values and so on.

Ghanaians view HIV/AIDS as consequences of sexual immorality or immoral behavior, thus infected individuals are considered responsible for acquiring the disease. In some cases, the infection is perceived as a punishment given by God to perpetuators of sin like prostitution, promiscuity, drugs use or homosexuality. Ghanaians are very religious and moral people and have a value system to which they adhere. It is believed that individuals should abstain from sex until marriage and that those who acquire HIV/AIDS through commercial work or promiscuity bring disgrace to their families and that any member of the family who engages in these debaucheries do so to the detriment of the family.

Therefore, stigma related to sexual immorality is primarily due to cultural values against prostitution or amorous lifestyles coupled with fear of HIV/AIDS itself, due to misconceptions and fatalities associated with the disease. Although there are homosexual sexes in Ghana, the only form of sexual transmission of HIV that working document regard is heterosexual intercourse.  The criminal code of 1960(ACT 29) of Ghana makes sexual intercourse an unnatural manner. Persons suspected of homosexuality are swiftly punished and incarcerated by law officials. Homosexual men are harassed, called evil, evicted from their homes and even beaten by members from their homes and community.

The Family system in Ghana also enhances the breeding of stigmatization to HIV/AIDS to some extent. Family members are considered actively responsible for the behaviors of each household members and the family blames or praises for behaviors of it members. An individual is linked to a long chain of the living and deceased members in his family in his or her home town or village. A family member who dies or lives with HIV/AIDS are stigmatized because of the mindset of the community as a whole. They may encourage relatives with HIV/AIDS to remain silent about their status to prevent gossip, social rejection and HIV related stigma. In some cases family members isolate relatives with HIV to minimize social contact.

Again, stigma attached to HIV /AIDS is based on ignorance on the emergence of the epidemic with it modes of transmission. Whiles westerners say the first case of HIV/AIDS was found in some parts of Africa, Africans have also counteracted this view that the proliferation of westerners into our continent have heighted the cases of HIV. However true this thinking may be, one will find out that ignorance has been a major player to this effect. It is of common fear that by associating with people living with HIV/AIDS will put many at risk of being infected with the disease. Such fears have not been different from that of westerners even among people who know and understand the actual means of transmission maybe based on an irrational reaction.  The Lethal nature of HIV/AIDS undoubtedly raises the level of fear with most people being looked down upon and some having to loose their jobs at workplaces. Stigmatization to this disease has travelled a long way to the extent that affected persons do not share anything in common with ordinary people. i.e., ordinary people do not eat with them, drink from the same cups, share the same lotion or even come closer to someone suspected to have HIV/AIDS simply for the fact that one may contract the disease by mere touches. These mentalities of many have even subdued the structures put to tackle this social unrest.

Conversely, the effect of stigma to HIV/AIDS has lead to refusal of voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, increased gender based violence and marginalization of high risk individuals. People do not seek VCT because of the fear of discovering that they are HIV positive and fear of the resulting stigma and discrimination that may accompany them HIV/AIDS positive status.

Moreover, Persons living with HIV/AIDS hide their HIV sero-positive status to reduce HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination and to retain the care and support of family members. Ironically, this secrecy hinders uptake of treatment and of the support services that can be provided by family members. People who feel stigmatized or discriminated against have poor health outcomes, socio-psychological problems and suicidal thoughts. Tackling HIV stigma will involve tackling perceptions and values towards sexuality and HIV/AIDS.

Lastly, work place discrimination in Ghana has led to low productivity to some extent.  After realizing in the workplace that one has HIV, it is believe that the individual is not fit to performing his or her duties. Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV’s) then suffer from idleness or fear of infecting others with the disease and later lead to their dismissals. Another case is the mindset of persons living with HIV/AIIDS. After knowing their HIV infection, most of them feel reluctant and depressed to work due to the mind set about the disease. Persons living with HIV rather use stigma and discrimination as a fiasco for not working and want to look pitiable for people to come to their aid in terms of financial wise. However, there are some who have HIV and are still healthy and working and their conditions have never weighed them down i.e. not reached a deplorable stage (AIDS). All these happen as a result of early and late diagnosis. When diagnosed early, adequate measures are put in place to prevent one from getting to the dying stage, devoid of stigmatization

Despite the enormous efforts by the government to measure the degree of stigma to HIV/AIDS and to avoiding it in the country, more interventions are needed and must continue. For instance is on education to overcoming HIV/AIDS stigma in the country. This is very crucial and education can help break the silence about the epidemic and move it to person, private and public domain. Through interpersonal discussions on HIV/AIDS, individuals and communities can be moved along the continuum from a higher degree stigma towards a lessened stigma. However, approach to HIV /AIDS can move the issue of taboo by making it less taboo and this will silence it. More education about HIV/AIDS stigma should therefore be incorporated in the primary, secondary and university level and even the home level.

Again, humanization HIV /AIDS through disclosure can also help address the issue of stigmatization to HIV/AIDS. As more and more people disclose their HIV positive sautés, the taboo surrounding the infection lessens. This courageous fight helps set the media agenda for the issue of AIDS. They show that individuals living with HIV/AIDS are people just like everyone else and must not be stigmatized or discriminated against in any way. They are children, women, men, gay, straight, wealth and poor, famous persons and ordinary people. In their public appearances, these are “poster people” for the epidemic and stress that they want to be treated well. They want to per sue education, earn a living, marry and become helpers to other and that being HIV positive should not be hindrances to their progress.

Furthermore, organizing  people living with HIV/AIDS into support and action groups when networked into a nation wide association , influence national policies and would effect campaigns to decrease stigma and to lobby for free antiretroviral and lobby for benefits such as stigmatization for the diseases.

Finally, government should also establish and implement policies to overcome stigmatization. This policy will allow persons living with HIV/AIDs to enjoy their work without any fear of any dismissal. Such actions will fine any employee who dismisses or ill-treat any HIV/AIDS patient in the workplaces and such enjoyable immunity would help reduce HIV/AIDS stigmatization.

HIV/AIDS is a disease of ignorance and intolerance as well as a biological; illness and not a punishment from God. It can affect the blind, the cripple, the insane, rich, poor, black, white, homosexual, heterosexual, pastor and even the congregation. If hypertension kills but it is not stigmatized, why should HIV/AIDS a disease which can be managed and controlled like hypertension be stigmatized. HIV does not kill but stigma and discrimination kills

Written By: G.B Adu-Takyi

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As way of conducting research into HIV/AIDS situation in Ghana, KEBA Africa manages a group of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and is known as KEBA Africa HIV support groups, consisting of  The President , Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer over seeing and managing both activities and funds of the group.

This group is made up of predominantly women and they are given socio-economic support, funds for antiretroviral drugs (ARVS) and nutritional supplements to improve their nutritional status. Members are also registered on National health Insurance schemes and offered psychosocial supports as well. These 45 members who are infected with HIV have been mobilized and trained in reproductive health issues. This is to enable them enjoy responsible sexual lives, reduce HIV transmission to their partners, and prevent Mother –To-Child transmission. Members are also trained in advocacy and facilitation skills to empower them to advocate for their rights.

The following are some of the intervention activities carried out by the association.

• (Teenage) pregnancy prevention and education.
• Peer education on STIs and HIV/AIDS
• Promotion and distribution of both the male and  female condoms and other clinical commodities
• Psychosocial counseling.
• How to deal with stigma and discrimination
• Support for newly diagnosed HIV persons.

REPORT ON PLHIV SOCIALIZATION MEETING.

KEBA Africas PLHIV support group meet on the first Saturday of every month. The meeting is chaired by the president of the group and health personnel’s are brought to educate members on ways to enable them live positive lifestyles without re-infections. This is very crucial and since majority is sexually active, risk elimination behavior model would only be an option. Most of them having resorted to the risk reduction behavior change model are educated on the need for condom use and other matters relating to their sexual and reproductive health.

Below is a summary on education of proper sex models i.e. (On correct and Consistent condom use) by Mr. George Benjamin Adu-Takyi, a peer educator and an HIV counselor from KEBA Africa using a dummy of the male sexual organ for demonstration.

LESSON ON CORRECT AND CONSISTENT CONDOM USE

According to Mr. Takyi, condoms are shields made of latex on the penis or vagina to hold semen. This protection can be worn by both males and females. Condoms act as tough extra skin to prevent sperm, vaginal fluids and STIs, including HIV to enter the vagina or penis during intercourse.

Currently, there are two main types of condoms and they are

1. Male condoms

2. Female condoms

He stated that male condoms should be obtained from places where they are covered and stored out of the sun. The package should be checked to make sure it is not opened or torn and the next thing one should look out is the expiry date. If the condom has no expiry date and has only the manufacturing date, one should add fives years to the manufacturing date. If one realizes that the date has expired, one should get a new one because the condom is no longer safe to be used.

Again, the individual has to wait until the penis is hard and the partner is ready to have sex and is wet inside before opening the package. The male condoms should not be blown in order to check for holes. If one does that, he cannot put on the condom correctly.

It is also important to make sure the condom is the right way up with the tip upwards and roll on the outside so that it goes down the penis. One should note that when taking off the condom from its pack, one should not tear the condom with his teeth. If that happens, one creates holes in it with the teeth. The male condom has two edges, one with a perforated edge and the other, a smooth edge. Condoms should be torn through the perforated end. Also condoms should not be kept in wallets. If this happens, sitting on the condom will make it very weak and susceptible to damage or breakage when using it. The tip of the condom should be held to allow the air to escape from it before it is put on the penis. Always look out for lubricant in the condom. After the male condom has been rolled to the base of the penis, one should make sure that his partner is wet by stimulating her before the penis is put in the vagina for intercourse.

In case the condom is not lubricated; one should not use oil or oil based lubricant such as Vaseline or petroleum jelly to enhance lubrication. Since the condom is made of latex, it will make the condom break during intercourse but rather use water or saliva. After the male has ejaculated, quickly draw the penis form the vagina. Staying long in the vagina after ejaculation can cause the flow of semen into the vagina after the penis had gown down if care is not taken. Take out the penis from the vagina and take off the condom with your finger gently by holding the rim of the condom around the base of the penis and tie it so that the semen does not spill.

Finally after taken the condom off, dispose of it safely  (Bury it, burn it, or put it in a latrine). The male condom rarely breaks if the user avoids dry, rough sex. Good sex can be enjoyed if one will adhere to the above mentioned tips on correct consistent condom use (CCC).

LESSONS ON FEMALE CONDOMS

The female condom unlike the male condom is made from Polyurethane .Polyurethane is a plastic material which is stronger than the latex rubber and this makes it uneasy to tear. This condom like the male condom acts like a thin second skin between partners. It is inserted into the vagina and adheres to the shape of the vagina. It also prevents the exchange of fluids between partners during sexual intercourse and serves as a protection against unwanted pregnancies and STDs including HIV/AIDS.

The female condom may be slippery to work with at first, but becomes easier with practice. Unlike the male condom, the female condom can be inserted up to 8 hours before sex. It should be inserted prior to any genital contact. Serrated fingernails may tear the female condom. To be able to use the condom, one after having access to the condom should check out for the expiry date and when the manufacturing date is present, one should add five more years to get the expiry date. Note the blue arrow on the top right of the package. The person about to use the condom has to choose a position that is comfortable: squat, raise one leg and etc. The condom should be lubricated on the outside and the inside. Whiles the individual holds the sheath at the close end, grasp the soft, flexible inner ring and squeeze it with the thumb and the middle finger, or the thumb and second finger, so it becomes long and narrow.

The next thing to do is to use the other hand to separate the outer lips of the vagina after gently inserting the inner ring into the vagina. Try as much as possible to feel the inner ring and move into place. Place the index finger on the outside of the condom and push it as far as it will go and make sure the sheath is not twisted. Then the individual can gently guide the penis into the vagina. This is important because if the penis is not guided, it will loose it bearing and this may pose danger to the female. The female condom unlike the male condom can be lubricated with a jelly incase there is not enough lubrication. The sheath to the vagina wall makes sex exciting by stimulating the clitoris of the vagina during penetration of the penis.

After sex, remove the condom and twist the out ring and gently pull the condom out. Try to do this by standing up. Finally, you bury burn or wrap the condom and discard into the garbage.

Questions:

How do condoms get broken during Sex?

Ans: Mr. Takyi explained that condoms may burst due to the following reasons.

1. When the tip was not held to remove air when wearing

2. Wearing one condom for more than one round of sex

3. When condoms have expired

4. When both male and female condoms are worn during sex.

5. Lubrication of the male condoms with any petroleum based lubricant.

QUESTIONS

Do condoms have different sizes to fit all men in Ghana?

Ans: The size of the male condom is suitable for all men. It must however be noted that a condom can stretch out to take all the water in bucket (size 32).

QUESTION

Is the female condom painful to wear?

No! If there is enough lubrication that will allow smooth insertion, there would not be any pains and it is equally not painful when removing the condom after sexual intercourse.

Can the female condom be used alongside the male condom?

Ans: No! If a woman decides to wear a condom, it is not right for the man to also wear the condom. This prevents friction from breaking the condoms and will make sexual intercourse not exciting.

NB: PLHIV (Persons Living With HIV)

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The HIV epidemic has a tremendous impact on morbidity and mortality in the workplace. For every workplace, the most priced resource is its human resource, thus when employees get infected in the organization, company or workplace loses a lot of productive man hours with people getting sick and some having to leave the job. Millions of employees and their families face HIV infection if not offered the opportunity to protect themselves. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there is a likely loss between 10% and 30% by the year 2020 (ILO 2007).

The school system is one important place to capture the attention of students and staff to focus on the effort to manage and mitigate the impact of HIV. In a working environment such as Ghana International School with an estimated population of 1000 persons comprising staff and students, it is imperative that policies are put in place to protect staff and students from becoming infected by HIV and in the event of staff and students becoming infected, guidelines are provided to access antiretroviral treatment.

Consequently an HIV/AIDS workshop was organized for 77 staff members of Ghana International School (GIS) to educate them on HIV/AIDS with a view to developing a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS. Below are the objectives for the workplace polices

OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP

• Reduce HIV risk behavior among 77 staff members of Ghana International School

• Reduce HIV related stigma and discrimination at Ghana International school

• Promote condom use among members of staff and non teaching staff members of Ghana International School

• Provide information on voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for staff and non staff members of Ghana International School

• Promote a culture of HIV testing among staff and non staff members of Ghana International School

ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Members received education on stigma and discrimination and how to deal with them.

2. Both teaching and nonteaching staff members were educated on correct and consistent condom use.

3. Information on Voluntary Counseling and Testing was provided.

4. Promotion of positive attitude towards voluntary counseling and Testing.

5. Reduction of HIV risk behavior among staff and non staff members.

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This report presents the results of outreach Counseling and Testing programmes on HIV /STD’S actives undertaken by KEBA Africa under the Global Fund Project Round 8.

THE PROJECT.

The Global Fund was set up as independent financial instrument to augment funding of country programmes for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in developing countries. Since 2002, Ghana has successfully accessed funding from the Global Fund for seven grants totaling $ 300 million for the three diseases. These grants are coordinated through the Ghana Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), an independent national coordinating body broadly representative of national stakeholders, including Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), People Living with HIV (PLHIV), Academia, Private sector, and Multi and Bilateral Agencies, joined in the fight against the three diseases.

Since 2009, the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation and the International Labour Organization have been recipients of funds to conduct counseling and testing for the informal sector on HIV/AIDS and STDs management across the 10 regions of Ghana.

KEBA Africa was subcontracted to undertake the HIV /AIDS education and Counseling and Testing component of the project. So far KEBA Africa have started work in five out of the ten regions namely: Greater Accra, Eastern Region, Ashanti Region, and Brong Ahafo region and the western Region.

The project has undergone 2 major phases.

1. Organizing workplace policy programmes to train and educate members both in informal and formal sectors to reduce HIV risk behaviors, to avoid Stigma and discrimination and to promote the use of condoms in these five regions.

2. Embarking on mobile confidential voluntary Counseling and testing for members in both formal and informal sectors and also promoting culture of HIV testing among members in both formal and informal sectors.

So far, over 7000 people within both formal and informal sectors have been educated on the following.

1. HIV/AIDS, STDS/STI

2. The need for condom use .i.e. correct and consistent condom use.

3. Role of peer educators

4. Behavior change

5. Need to avoid discrimination and stigmatization.

6. Window period, with the same number of people undergoing counseling and testing in order to knowing their HIV/AIDS sero status.

Challenges

Our major challenge has to do with mobilizing people in the informal sector for workplace and Voluntary Counseling and Testing programmes. Since the sector is not well structured, it is difficult mobilizing people to undergo counseling and testing. The informal sector is also faced with some level of illiteracy as compared to the formal sector. Only few have attained basic education and organizing them for workplace programmes becomes difficult and materials provided in english language has to be translated into the local dilate for easy understanding.

LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE 2 PHASES OF THE PROJECT

More members within both formal and informal sectors need to be trained as peer counselors to make the programme more successful. Again, there is the need to look at the size of each trade association and decide on the number of members to train. Also it was observed that those who are moderately educated or not at all educated easily embrace counseling and testing as compared to the elite in societies. However, education on the need to undergo counseling and testing has to be increased.

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