Acknowledging some success…

Coalition on HIV/AIDS establishes website to mark anniversary
GUYANA Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBCHA) marked its third anniversary yesterday with the establishment of a website, www.guybizcoalition.org.
At the inauguration Executive Director, Ms. Suzanne Franch said, while GBCHA partners are committed, there is a need for the business community to be more strategically involved in interventions.

She noted though that their main emphasis is change in the workplace as one means of targeting the stigma and discrimination which is still a big problem.
Franch said the Coalition partners are from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) and they are working with the business community in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice).
With the vision of ‘Inspiring compassionate leadership to improve health in the workplace and beyond’ GBCHA members work in four areas which are:
* developing and implementing non-discriminatory workplace policies and programmes that increase access to all aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention, including education, testing, counselling, treatment, support and care;
* core competency – harnessing each individual company’s strengths to promote change, including product and service donations as well as utilisation of supply chains and business networks;
* community – developing collaborative relationships with government and community organisations to strengthen and expand resources and
* advocacy and leadership – a commitment to stand against stigma and discrimination and promote change.
At the end of the day, Franch said their focus is the overall health and well-being of people and partnerships are forged with other groups in the areas of tuberculosis, cancer and more chronic diseases to spread awareness.
She said, with a holistic approach, to date, they have had some success.
Chairperson of GBCHA’s Board of Directors and General Manger of Guyana Lottery Company, Ms. Tracey Lewis concurred that the goal is the promotion of better health and wellness in a general sense.
“There have been noticeable strides. The workplace is the setting in which one spends most of one’s time and the Business Coalition uses the opportunity to engage employers and employees,” Lewis observed.

Innovative ways

She said as the Coalition approaches its fourth year, efforts will be made to continue the pursuit of innovative ways to reach the most at risk, as well as concentrate on reducing stigma and discrimination through organised supply chains and implemented workplace policies..

“We will continue to build new partnerships and take this opportunity to thank existing developmental and other partners,” Lewis added.
Another aspect of the anniversary celebrations will be awards for business excellence on June 24, which would identify and promote new examples of best practices, highlighting the unique skills, expertise and products of the Private Sector that can enhance and expand the national response through various partnerships.
The awardees will be in five categories, Workplace Programme, Outstanding Performance by Peer Educator, Core Competency, Community Investment and Advocacy and Individual Leadership.
Formed in May 2008, GBCHA is an independent non-profit organisation under the first phase of the Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention (GHARP I) Project that brought together national and international organisations to coordinate and enhance the Private Sector response to the epidemic.
The mission of the Coalition is ‘to mobilise and assist the Private Sector in the response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace and beyond, by facilitating technical assistance, as well as helping organisations identify and apply their core competencies, products, services and resources to the cause.

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