Spearhead workplace HIV policy development, companies urged

development and implementation.
Speaking during the World Aids Campaign Day in Mufakose at the weekend, Mr Tome said the implementers should bring both the formal and informal sectors on board to fight the spread of HIV and Aids mostly at workplaces.

“Harare provincial industries employ the largest workforces which are then fuelled by the mushrooming of the biggest informal sector to date.
“These economic activities create fertile grounds for HIV spreading because of the attendant enabling environments such as beerhalls and night clubs which attract young working men and commercial sex workers,” he said.

Mr Tome said the pandemic had also caused untold suffering to vulnerable children, women mobile populations as well as poor communities.
“It’s important that we expand access to support services such as food and nutrition, birth registration, educational support as well as related services for people living with HIV.
“We must also ensure that we promote the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV,” he said.

However, Mr Tome commended the positive response by men in the circumcision programme saying it was a good sign towards prevention of the virus.
“The decline in HIV cases has been attributed to sustained focus on prevention programmes as the mainstay of our national response to HIV/Aids.

“These include HIV testing and counselling, a prevention of mother to child transmission, condom (use) promotion, awareness campaigns and behavioural change strategies.
“Male circumcision has increased the protective effect of available strategies.

“Harare metropolitan province has recorded 1 360 in the first quarter of 2011 which is the highest number of circumcised males of all ages,” he said.
He, however, said male circumcision alone did not provide the desired protective effects as it reduces the risk by only 60 percent.

“I would like to inform men not to take circumcision as a magic bullet but a preventive measure that reduces the risk,” added Mr Tome.
The World Aids Campaign Day was celebrated under the theme “Universal Access and Human Rights – together we will make it”.