Pledge campaign to raise workplace awareness on HIV/AIDS launched

By Cheranka Mendis

 Creating greater awareness on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the corporate sector thereby reaching a larger audience, Reckitt Benckiser through its global brand Durex launched a pledge campaign with The Lanka Business Coalition (LBCH) on HIV/AIDS on Wednesday.

Even though the country has a low level of HIV cases recorded with an estimated HIV prevalence of less than 0.1% in 2011 and an estimated 4,200 people living with HIV, the numbers are largely underrated as many cases do not get registered. The total reported cases from 1987 to 2012 is only 1,649, of which 981 were male and 688 were females with a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1.

People across social strata are vulnerable to the HIV virus which is most commonly transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse.

Going by the line ‘prevention is better than cure,’ the pledge campaign has been organised to spread awareness both on the disease and prevention, as well as on how to live with HIV/AIDS in society without widening the social stigma that prevails currently.

With a campaign focused on ‘zero AIDS related deaths’ launched in December on Worlds Aids Day, the campaign is seen as an earnest wake up call for responsible citizens, governments, business entities and focus groups to act now to stop the pandemic from spreading further.

Reckitt Benckiser Managing Director Rahul Murgai stated that in Sri Lanka, like in any part of the world, “AIDS is a chronic disease that carries a great financial burden, casts a stigma and create social discrimination for the bearer and the family.” Accordingly, there is a need for social mobilisation and social justice to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS related facilities.

Seeing a strategic and an ethical connection between their brand Durex and HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives taken by LBCH, the campaign was launched, he said. Reckitt Benckiser Sales Director Sinclair Cruise noted that 2.5 million condoms were given away as part of the company’s corporate responsibility initiative along with many others.

LBCH Steering Committee Member and Standard Chartered Bank CEO Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar noted that HIV/AIDS has an impact on companies’ bottom lines and that it is important to spread the word. With some 60 companies registered under LBCH, the pledge board will be taken to each company for employees to pledge support and create awareness.

Noting that prevention is a responsibility of an individual, Ministry of Health STD Division Consultant Dr. K. Buddhakorala stated the Division is working with a global grant of US$ 12.6 million in a national project to spread awareness. “The most common misconception is that having a faithful relationship with your partner will prevent this from spreading. There is no room for faith unless it is a marital partner. Even in that case, we have issues to address.”

Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake also noted that the Government has taken various initiatives to prevent the virus, to protect the people and to support those who are living with AIDS. With the increase of tourist arrivals and business development, the country is at a risk of increasing the current HIV/AIDS percentage, he said. “That is why we have decided to try and reduce the HIV/AIDS virus transmission to zero this year,” he said.  

Pix by Lasantha Kumara