HIV/AIDS
ILO and Allies on the mission to significantly combating HIV/AIDS and Non-Communicable Diseases at Workplace
Dar Es Salaam (ILO news) The third edition of the Employer Health Bonanza, which is a yearly ATE's health-based initiative, was opened this weekend in style. This year's edition was animated by a powerful theme, stating: "Say no to NCDs: Improve productivity at workplace" which is specifically designed to remind employers in public and private sectors to maintain health status of their employees and address work related stresses.
The fun-filled fitness program, this time around, featured prominent figures and top executives from the state-owned authorities, international agencies and corporate.
State Minister for Labour, Youth, Employment and Disabled, Ridhiwani Kikwete graced the event as the guest of honour. Others senior guests were ILO East Africa Country Director, Ms Caroline Mugalla, ATE Chairman, Mr Oscar Mgaya, ATE Managing Director, Ms Suzanne Ndomba, TUCTA General Secretary, Mr Herry Mkunda, Prime Minister’s Office –Labour, Youth, Employment and Disabled Permanent Secretary, Ms Mary Maganga, Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr John Jingu, TACAIDS Managing Director, Dr Jerome Kamwela, OSHA Managing Director, Ms Khadija Mwenda and Labour Commissioner, Ms Susan Mkangwa.
Addressing the crowd, Ms Caroline Khamati Mugalla, the ILO East Africa Country Director, lauded the ATE's management and staff for sticking with such mission that they began two years ago.
She stated that the Bonanza reflects on their ability and commitment to develop, execute and supervise healthcare interventions, improve efficiency, coordination and collective representation of private sector and integration of the HIV/AIDS response into the bonanza.
“We continue to call for increased participation and collaboration of development partners and public and private actors in the health Bonanza,” she stated.
Nonetheless, Ms Caroline highlighted the ILO and their stakeholders' commitment to contribute to these efforts of maintaining health practices in the world of work particularly containing the rising NCDs rate through the event.
“Through this initiative, ILO and its allies can significantly contribute to combating the pandemic and NCDs at workplaces,” Ms Caroline added.
She believed, only through the partnerships with the healthcare organizations in conducting detailed research studies throwing focuses on data collection of the NCDs impact assessment around production and productivity aspects, would do a lot more favour.
The findings would help explicate and influence policy decisions in reinforcing occupational health, training programs and safety gears supply with an integrated nutrition and fitness sub-programs; hence achieving improved working conditions for productive outcome.
The event also saw State Minister for Youth, Labour and Employment, Ridhiwani Kikwete, who was also the chief guest, launch a HIV/AIDS and NCDs guideline for private sector workplaces. The guideline will help private sector to prepare HIV/AIDS and NCDs response policies at workplaces and exercise legal requirement for the same.
The ILO Dar Es Salaam Country Office Director also took her moment to praise the Tanzanian Government under the State Ministry for Youth, Labour and Employment, for introducing the policy from which private sector employers can use to advance and improve staff health in their offices.
“I promise that the ILO will continue to render their technical support in the implementation of the newly launched policy guideline,” she substantiated.