PSF in anti-HIV/AIDS drive

The Private Sector Federation (PSF), this week, launched an anti -HIV/Aids program aimed at preventing infection and spreading of the scourge among workers in privately registered companies. The campaign will be conducted through sensitisation and condom distribution among others. “The youth constitute the biggest percentage of private sector business operators and it’s this age group that is most at risk of contracting HIV,” said Leon Pierre Rusanganwa, who is in charge of the Behaviour Change and Social Marketing at PSF. PSF and the National Aids Control Commission recently assessed private companies on the measures put in place to fight against HIV. Supported by the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, the assessment results indicated that most private companies have neither clear policies to fight HIV nor allocated budgets to control the disease. Rusanganwa added that the assessment proved that employees in these companies have limited access to HIV information thereby lacking knowledge on HIV/Aids based on the UNAIDS standards. Speaking during the launch, UNAIDS Country Coordinator, Dr. Moctar Mbaye Amadou, commended the initiative, saying it highly contributes to the country’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS). Anathalie Mukamusoni, the Human Resource and Staff Welfare Manager at Sonarwa-a private insurance company, called upon companies to adopt effective measures to prevent workers from HIV infection. Ends