Today was already the last day at the Global Village. Time passed by so quickly. In all the chaos and hectic times of the conference the STOP AIDS NOW! booth was a save basis for many of us. We already started to feel at home. It was a place where we have gotten to know many local partners and other like minded organisations from the field. It was a place where valuable knowledge and experiences were exchanged. It was a place to encounter others and network. Last but not least it was a place to take a breath, chat and have some fun (with or without a ´sombrero´). After an intense week we broke down the STOP AIDS NOW! booth today with mixed feelings. Sad that it was all over, tired of all the hard work but also very satisfied! Below we will highlight some of the presentations of our last day at the Global Village in Mexico.
STOP AIDS NOW! development project "Managing HIV and AIDS in the workplace"
The session started with a question what is workplace?
Participants expressed their understanding of workplace. According to them, workplace is a place where people engage themselves in government, private and private businesses. The impact of HIV and AIDS in workplace as explained by participants:
- The existence of stigma and discrimination-“in some organisations there are people who do not share washing rooms where PWHA have used.”
- Increasing trend of medical costs
- Decreasing productivity of organisation
Participants identified two alternative ways of addressing HIV and AIDS in workplace:
- Developing and implementation of workplace policy
- An combination of ad hoc and policy based response to the epidemic in workplace
However most of participants are in support of policy oriented response to the epidemic. As mentioned, the process of policy development and implementation should be participatory and the organisation is required to commit itself in the process.
NOVOC; Network of Organisation for Orphans and Vulnerable children in Malawi
NOVOC gave a presentation at the booth to emphasise the need for a community based approach. Facilitator, Monica Chang’anamuno, involved the public within her demonstration in order to identify the problems which orphans and vulnerable children face on a day to day basis. These are discrimination, isolation, emotional problems, dealing with loss and grief, poverty, exploitation and lack of food. With a drama –act Monica stressed out how a community based approach can support and take care of OVC.
