+

Rolling out public sector HIV workplace programmes in councilsEmpowering public servants

+The problem

In 2005 about 7% of the 350,000 employees

in Tanzania's public service were living with HIV.

AIDS was the leading cause of death of public servants.

The concern: “How to best empower the 250,000 public servants employed in the country’s periphery to protect themselves from HIV or to continue living a productive life with the infection."

+The Approach

Campaign approach, emphasizing the rights of public servants to a safe working environment, to non-discrimination and support for HIV+ employees, in line with Tanzania's

Guidelines for managing HIV and AIDS in the public service

Circular No. 2 on non-discrimination, care and support for employees living with HIV

Code of conduct and ethics for public servants

Mobile teams conducting 1-day information and skills building seminars in councils and wards.

Provision of on-site HIV-counselling and testing.

Individual empowerment of public servants & public servants as resource persons for communities

+The results

Participation of 20,223 public servants from remote areas (63% of workforce in 3 target regions, 55% men and 45% women). Many heard for the first time about their rights.

11,224 tested/counselled for HIV (56% of participants).

Increase in knowledge and change of attitude and behaviour:

“I am a widow, my first and second husband died… I enjoyed the training, which was very educative. At the end I went for testing like many other colleagues. When I got my result I was shocked to be HIV positive. .. First I did not dare come forward and inform my employer, though I knew now I would receive an incentive. It took me another six months to actually declare my status and claim support. I was too scared to loose my job or be harassed. But to my surprise, when I told everybody, I got and still get so much sympathy and help. I think this is a result of the training everybody received.”

Handeni Tanga

46%58%

65% 63%

Base-line

Endline

Comprehensive knowledgeof HIV transmission

Public e

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32013

20223

11224

Public employees participated in WPP