BOTSWANA – FRANCISTOWN (The Voice) - Three newspapers, Sunday Standard, Mmegi, and The Voice, made history last week Thursday when they launched Botswana's first HIV&AIDS policy booklet titled HIV&AIDS Workplace Policy and Code of Conduct for Botswana Media.
The three media houses have been working together diligently on a pilot project since July 2007, to launch the 15-page booklet, which aims to address itchy issues such as stigma and discrimination in the workplace and society at large, as well as guide journalists when they report on HIV&AIDS related matters.
This was a Media Institute of South Africa supported process, with the financial and technical aid of the African Comprehensive HIV&AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP). The National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA) was involved through consultations where they reviewed the policy Some of the workplace policies in the booklet include a healthy, conducive and safe environment for all workers despite their HIV status, non-discriminatory behaviour that violates human rights and screening. The latter has been a hot potato within the country, where some organisations have used, and continue to use, an HIV positive test result to refuse capable people employment.
Attending the event were employees and employers of the above named newspapers, as well as the former minister of health Dr. Sheila Dinotsi Tlou, who launched the booklet. "It is the media that is well positioned to educate and inform the nation on matters of importance. Let's abide by the HIV policy. People living with HIV&AIDS in the workplace need not be treated with a left hand, but instead, like everyone else. Show your support for them and make sure that if you are not infected, you stay that way," Tlou said. For his part, the Managing Director of ACHAP, Dr. Themba Moeti, said that support is the most compassionate aspect that people living with HIV and AIDS need today, in order to overcome the challenge faced by Botswana of having an HIV free generation in 2016.
"The time has come for HIV to be mainstreamed. It is relevant because even after 20 years of HIV, stigma and discrimination, infringement of people's rights and myths still exist. More still needs to be done to empower people with knowledge on HIV and AIDS."