Metrofile helps employees in the fight against HIV/AIDS

Metrofile has reported that its HIV/AIDS programme has yielded results that far exceeded its expectations, with 90% of the organisation's staff taking part in the voluntary HIV counselling and testing phase.

80% of those tested came forward to find out their results. The majority of those who did not come forward had either had an HIV test previously or knew their HIV status.

In October 2003, Metrofile embarked on an initiative with HIV/AIDS facilitator Reality Training Concepts to ascertain its level of HIV infection, with the aim of assisting its employees and their communities, and preparing itself for the challenges HIV/AIDS presents to business across the globe.

"Reality Training Concepts performed a needs analysis at Metrofile to determine the company's level of HIV readiness, and then recommended the best way forward for us," says Jill Leite, HR director at Metrofile. "Most people are aware of HIV/AIDS, so we wanted a programme that went much deeper than simply raising awareness. The programme that Reality Training Concepts has helped us develop focuses on making people understand the disease and showing them that being HIV-positive is not an immediate death sentence."

Metrofile's HIV/AIDS programme has three phases. The first phase involved educating and training all company employees. Once the training was complete, employees were given the opportunity to voluntarily undergo testing to determine their HIV/AIDS status.

For the testing phase, Reality Training Concepts used the OraQuick saliva test. The nature of this test allowed Metrofile to gain detailed HIV infection statistics across the company, while providing individual employees the opportunity to learn their HIV status.

Phase three of Metrofile's HIV/AIDS programme involves providing its employees with certain counselling facilities and distributing the "Positive Health" booklet to staff who are HIV-positive. "Positive Health" was written by Neil Orr and David Patient, who have been living with HIV for the last 23 years. This booklet provides guidelines for healthy eating and exercise routines for HIV-positive people.

Metrofile endeavours to carry on with the fight, by ongoing training and education, regarding healthy living, discrimination and a healthy mind to ensure that individuals are equipped to fight HIV. The Metrofile HIV/AIDS programme is designed to bring a positive message to its employees, Leite says. It is important for people to know and understand that it is possible to live and be healthy with HIV.

During 2003 Reality Training Concepts successfully compiled and implemented HIV/AIDS policies and programmes in organisations throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. It also assisted organisations such as Metrofile in developing and rolling out their HIV/AIDS programmes.

For further information about these programmes, please contact: Jill Leite, Metrofile, (011) 677 3000, [email protected] or Charmaine Badenhorst, Reality Training Concepts, (011) 918 3614, 073 167 5667, [email protected].