THE VCT@WORK INITIATIVE a presentation by

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THE VCT_at_WORK INITIATIVE a presentation by

• Akua Ofori-Asumadu
• ITUC 2nd Women World Conference

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What is the VCT_at_WORK Initiative?

• Launched by the ILO and UNAIDS in June 2013 at
  the 102nd ILC
• Contributes to achieving the global target of 15
  million by 2015 (2011 Political Declaration on
  HIV and AIDS)

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WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES?

• To promote HIV testing to enable five million
  women and men workers,(their spouses and
  community members) to know their status by 2015
• To facilitate access to antiretroviral treatment
  (ART) for women and men workers, (their spouses
  and community members) who test positive and are
  eligible for ART.

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Why the VCT_at_WORK Initiative?

• Low levels of HIV testing (UNAIDS Report)
• About 7.0 million people are currently eligible,
  but are not receiving treatment.
• The majority do not know their HIV status
• Increased availability of treatment
• HIV is no longer a death sentence
• HIV treatments today are both effective and
  easier to take
• The unique contribution of the world of work
• The world of work constitutes the largest
  population of people living with HIV globally
• As the UN agency mandated to address world of
  work issues, the ILOs comparative advantage is
  its ability to reach millions of workers in both
  the formal and informal economies.

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Why the VCT_at_WORK Initiative?

• A more conducive legal and policy environment
  that builds upon
• tripartite HIV and AIDS national/sectoral
  workplace policies
• labour legislation and policy
• Building the capacity of labour judges,
  magistrates, parliamentarians, labour factory
  inspectors and other world of work actors 
• Taking HIV testing IN and THROUGH the workplace
• i.e. a considerable amount of HTC will still take
  place within healthcare settings

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Where and When will the VCT_at_WORK Initiative be
implemented?

• A two-phase approach will be taken to
  operationalize the VCT_at_WORK Initiative at the
  country level  
• The first phase will be in a few countries where
  there is already political buy-in and expressed
  commitment to the initiative (Brazil, Ghana,
  India, Indonesia, Nigeria and South Africa)

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Where and When?

•  
• Emphasis will be placed on UNAIDS High Impact
  Countriesiative
• ILO and its partners will undertake a global
  mapping exercise to identify on-going activities
• Every effort will be made to support VCT
  initiatives that the ILOs constituents could
  associate themselves with

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How should the VCT tests be carried out

• The initiative is not a one-size-fits-all
• HTC conducted as part of an integrated health and
  wellness testing approach
• Stand alone
• Different approaches CICT VCT, PICT, HIV
  Self-Testing, Couples Testing and Multi-disease
  campaigns

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Which principles must be adhered to?

• The key principles for HIV Testing are
• Consent
• Confidentiality,
• Counselling,
• Convenience and
• Connection to care

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How will it be different?

• The VCT_at_WORK Initiative is being situated within
  a coordinated approach comprising a number of
  interventions
• the Getting to Zero_at_Work Campaign
• Recommendation No. 200 on HIV and AIDS
• Other International Labour Standards.

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Why do Trade Union need to do anything about
VCT_at_Work?

• Because
• HIV exists in complex relationships with poverty,
  inequality, discrimination and illiteracy
• workers - and their families, workplaces and
  communities that depend on them are - bearing the
  brunt of the epidemic

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Why do Trade Union need to do anything about
VCT_at_Work?

• The burden is on the most vulnerable people in
  society women, children and the poor
• HIV is no longer a death sentence and PLHIV can
  expect to live long healthy and productive lives
• Early diagnosis is key and VCT is the gateway for
  access to treatment

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Union action contains a clear message

• The principles, experience, networks and mass
  membership of trade unions are a shared resource
  and a potentially powerful tool in societys
  search for new fronts, bold initiatives and
  effective action in response to the mitigation of
  the impact of HIV
• (Global reach how trade unions are responding to
  AIDS - Case studies of union action)

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Conclusion

• Zero new infections, zero discrimination and
  zero AIDS-related deaths start at work.
• Zéro nouvelle infection. Zéro discrimination.
  Zéro décès lié au sida. La réalisation de ce
  triple objectif commence sur le lieu de travail.
  
• Sharan Burrow, General Secretary - International
  Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

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.....and YOU can make it happenTHANK YOU