Role of Sonysugar AIDS Control Unit (ACU) in HIV and AIDS reduction

program in the Sugar belt Migori County

Patrick Masiemo (Mr) Workplace coordinator

PRESENTATION STRUCTURE

• About Sonysugar• Objectives• The Sonysugar AIDS Control Unit (SACU)• Organizational structure of SACU• Activities and achievement• Best workplace practices• Lessons learnt• Recommendation / Way forward

South Nyanza Sugar Company limited is a Kenyan Parastatal which plays a key role in Sugar production in the country.

It is located along the Kisii-Migori road in Awendo town, Migori County. It has a human capital of about 2,000, out of which 1,200 are permanent

employees and a further 800 are on temporary contracts. The company has lost many employees due to the AIDS scourge with enormous

company resources directed to funerals; necessitating the need for a robust HIV intervention.

The company thus has managed to form partnerships with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) undertaking similar interventions.

The Company has put in place measures to combat the disease burden through Prevention, Care, Treatment and Support for the already infected and affected.

ABOUT SONYSUGAR

i. To outline the role of Sonysugar AIDS Control Unit and peer educators in reduction of HIV/AIDS at the workplace and its environs.

ii. To share insights about best workplace practices in regard to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment context.

iii. To highlight the Company’s achievements in reducing HIV and AIDs prevalence.

iv. To elaborate on the wellness programme as an entry in prevention of non-communicable diseases.

OBJECTIVES

The SACU plays a significant Role in the reduction of HIV and AIDS in the Sugar belt of Migori County. Some key mandates include:-

Coordination of all HIV/AIDS workplace activities at Sony Sugar

Facilitation of peers and workplace activities i.e. trainings, meetings, seminars, permissions and provide badges.

Allocation of budget for HIV/AIDS activities at the workplace.

Outreach services based on HIV/AIDS activities to the surrounding communities.

Sonysugar AIDS Control Unit (SACU)

Planning and delegation of HIV/AIDS activities to the workplace peers/ motivators for implementation.

Monitoring and evaluation for HIV/AIDS activities at the workplace.

Ensuring full participation of peer educators/ work place motivators.

Work closely with the medical officer and linking with other partners.

Ensuring a HIV/AIDS policy is in place and being implemented.

Capacity building of the SACU members and the workplace peers.

Sonysugar AIDS Control Unit…

MD MD

ACUACU

MO – ACU coordinator

Coordinator APHIAplus Western Kenya

Workplace Motivators

MoH/CACC/NACC

Organizational structure of SonySugar AIDS Control Unit (SACU)

Prevention:

We have workplace peers who conduct sessions at workplace to employees.

We organize outreach services integrated with VCT services and reproductive health services (to reach community and employees).

Best Workplace Practices in HIV /AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment context

We conduct in-house trainings targeting employees, their dependents (youths) in and out of school.

The company has trained 50 workplace motivators (peer educators), who reach their peers on HIV/AIDS prevention messages.

The company publishes massages on employees pay slips in quarterly basis.

The company has 20 condom dispensers and they are refilled .Medical Division conduct continuous health education to

clients/patients, employees and their dependents.

Best Workplace Practices in HIV /AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment context…

* As evident with data which is submitted to MOH and our partners

 Workplace

 Condom distribution

 

JOOUST 1600

Wanganui Tea Factory 725

Ogembo Tea Factory 1325

Gianchore Tea Factory 1730

Maseno University 7325

Equator bottlers 3090

Kebirigo Tea Factory 1200

Tombe Tea Factory 50

Condom distribution and Demonstration

 Workplace

 Condom distribution

 

Itumbe Tea Factory 2850

Nyankoba Tea Factory 1157

Sony Sugar Factory 44801

Rianyamwamu Tea Factory 632

Kiamokama Tea Factory 527

Nyamache Tea Factory 920

Eberege Tea Factory 576

Total 68508

CompanyH As reporting

H As trained % reporting Males Females Totals

Sony 19 50 38 118 65 183Ogembo 5 10 50 37 18 55Gianchore 4 10 40 19 3 22Kiamokama 3 7 42.857143 16 13 29Rianyamwamu 3 10 30 13 5 18Nyamache 1 10 10 9 8 17Tombe 3 11 27.272727 8 13 21Sanganyi 1 10 10 46 54 100Nyansiongo 1 10 10 29 78 107

SonySugar health activism performance under prevention

The company has the following services under care and treatment: HTC services ART services Counselling services PMCT VMMC Home-based care services Support group

These services are offered for free to both employees and community members. The company also offers outpatient services which charges consultation fee, lab charges and medication for non-employees.

Care and Treatment

SonySugar ACU members, partners, APHIA plus and NOPE

• The Company won the Level 2, Gold Award certificate during the Grading & Awarding ceremony where 46 workplace company C.E.Os and Coordinators attended in Kisumu City, July 2013.

• This award is one of the best workplace Health programme based on prevention care support and treatment.

Company workplace programme Level 2, Gold Award certificate

• Grading & Awarding ceremony 46 company C.E.Os and coordinators participated (30m;16f)

• Grading system;• Level 1 of CWPP comprehensiveness; Platinum Award

Certification (62% to 76%) • CWPP Level 2; Gold Award certification54% -to 61% (Sony

Sugar Company Ltd)• CWPP Level 3: Silver Award certificate43% to 53% (7

companies)• CWPP Level 4; APHIAplus partnership award 20 % to 42%

(12 workplaces)

Achievements

Achievements

1.1 1.21.3

1.3

2.1

2.2

3.1

3.2

4.5

4.6

4.7

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

6.1

6.2

7.1

7.2

7,38.1

8.28.39.19.2

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

11.1

11.2

11.3

12.1

12.2

12.3

13.1

13.2

13.3

13.4

14.1

14.2

14.314.4

0

5

Company Bench Marking

Score Average Best Practice

14. Commemorate World AIDS Day

1. Senior Management support

5.Awareness and education

2. HIV/AIDS Focal Point/Coor-dinator

3. AIDS steering com-mittee

4. HIV/AIDS Policy

6. Prevention through condoms

7. Voluntary Counseling and Test-ing

8. Treatment

Implementation

13. Community Outreach Program

12. Partnerships

11.Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)

10.Prevention through peer ed-ucation

9. Care and support

Areas that needed immediate address as identified by the ACU include:Awareness creation/sensitizationWorld AIDS day Prevention through peer

educators workingProactive ACUMonthly ACU meetings Joint ACU and workplace health

motivators/ Peer educators/ health activists.

The company was awarded following the elements of the comprehensive workplace programme

• The company has a gym in place which plays a vital role in physical fitness and help reducing non communicable deceases.

• The company trained two TOTs on wellness programme they are to transfer skills to the rest of the employees and this helps to prevent non communicable deceases.

• Every year the company involves all the employees in organizing departmental sports day for social change and promote teamwork hence reduce non communicable deceases.

The role of wellness programme as an entry in prevention of Non communicable diseases

Workplace peers attending monthly feedback meeting as part of capacity building

• Workplace Motivators and Peer educators reach out the rest of the Company Workforce and beyond with the ACU and the Management team supporting their activities.

• The Company had already in place HIV/AIDS policy and it was noted that it ensure support and sustainability of workplace HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment initiatives.

• Partnership and capacity building through behavior change training conducted by the company quarterly targeting employees, workplace peers and youth is critical in multiplying the impact of AIDS Control Unit (ACU) involvement in HIV prevention.

Lessons learnt

• There is a great need for involving top management in supporting the workplace HIV and AIDs Prevention, care, and treatment programme. These will double the efforts for the company has to provide more vigorous support the programs.

• There is a great need of capacity building through continues workshops to workplace peers, ACU committee members on the new interventions focused to reduce new HIV infections.

• As at now the company has worked on the weaknesses and look forward to win the platinum

Recommendations & way forward

pmarucha@sonysugar.co.ke OR

administrator@sonysugar.co.ke

url: www.sonysugar.co.ke

Contacts