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In a clear demonstration of its commitment to the development and preservation
of high Health standards in the country, the Cabinet of Antigua and
Barbuda on Wednesday 1st August 2001, approved a Policy for HIV at the
Workplace.
The policy, which has received high praise from a wide cross-section
of the public, reads as follows:
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In recognition of the fact that HIV is of major public
health concern with implications for the continuing success of business
and the growth and development of our nation, it will be our policy
to support an HIV infection employee in a positive and no discriminatory
manner.
No HIV infected employee will be dismissed on the basis of his/her HIV
status
HIV testing will not be required as a basis for employment.
Every effort will be made to retain an HIV infected employee whose performance
is satisfactory for as long as he/she remains well and/or is able to
perform his/her duties satisfactorily.
In recognition of the fact that HIV is spread predominantly through
sexual contact and that such information is private and confidential,
and that employees' medical records are also private and confidential,
it will be the policy to treat an employee's medical information, including
his/her status as personal and therefore private and confidential. Reasonable
precautions will therefore be taken to protect information regarding
an employee's health records including his/her HIV status.
In recognition of individuals' concerns about HIV infection and needs
for information, it will be our policy to be sensitive and responsible
to these concerns/needs. We will address HIV concerns through a system
of continuing education and information bulletins. Employees will be
encouraged and given the opportunity to attend HIV information sessions
on entry or as soon as possible after entry to the business and thereafter
on a regular basis and at intervals convenient to the employer and employees.
Such information can be disseminated and discussed during regularly
designed staff meetings and/or through the medium of printed materials.
All employees will be given the opportunity and encouraged to attend
for voluntary confidential HIV testing with pre- and post-test counseling,
informed consent and appropriate continuing services.
Employees will be encouraged to actively participate in HIV/STD national
education, fund raising and awareness activities.
Employees in the public and private sectors and in collaboration with
the Ministry of Health/AIDS Secretariat will ready access to HIV preventive
agents (condoms).
Request for transfer will be considered in the usual way but not requests
based on fear and/or discrimination. Employees will rather be encouraged
to seek counseling based on need to resolve their concerns and fears.
Every effort will be made to support any employee who is the carrier
and who is also the primary economic provider of an HIV infected relative.
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The conditions laid out in the policy were agreed to in discussions
between the public, private and non-governmental agencies and the National
AIDS Programme.
Ministry of Health and Social Improvement
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
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