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Uganda's Minister for Public Service urges employers to put in place policies favourable to Persons Living with HIV and AIDS

Kampala — Employers should put in place policies favourable to Persons Living with HIV and AIDS. "We should support these people to contribute to the development of our country.

"As Government, a decision was taken that nobody should be retired or sent away from the civil service because he or she is HIV positive," said Henry Kajura, the Minister for Public Service.

Kajura noted that although HIV/AIDS was depressing, being sensitive to the needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS in places of work reduced the distress.

He was launching the Supporting Public Sector Workplaces to Expand Action and Responses against HIV/AIDS (SPEAR) programme on Wednesday at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

The $12.6m (about sh25.2b) five-year programme aims at enhancing HIV/AIDS prevention among adults through inreased access to prevention, treatment and care for workers in the ministries of education, local government and internal affairs. It is being implemented by World Vision, RTI International and US aid agency, USAID.

Charles Biddemu, the chairperson of the network of persons living with AIDS in the Police, urged managers to disclose their HIV status as a way of curbing new infections.

"Most of the people disclosing their HIV status are the lower cadres. The higher cadres should be examplary.

"The disclosure will curb stigma at places of work," he said.

Debbie Grieser, the deputy mission director of USAID said: "Discrimination in the workplace is real and needs to be addressed. A work place HIV/AIDS policy should be developed and supported by senior management."

She said that through the US president's PEPFAR AIDS fund, Uganda would get $288m (about sh576b) this year to fight HIV and AIDS.

Rudo Kwaramba, World Vision country director said implementing the SPEAR programme would improve children's welfare.

Over 40 districts have initiated SPEAR activities.

SPEAR is working with local HIV service providers.

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