FOUR private sector companies were last Thursday honoured for the sterling contributions their various partnerships made in the national response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace and community.

The work of these entities was recognized when the Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBCHA) held its Sixth Annual Awards for Business Excellence ceremony at the Cara Lodge in Georgetown.
The pace-setting companies to which hats are now being raised for consistently doing Guyana proud in its response to HIV/AIDS are The Guyana Revenue Authority, Scotiabank, Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd, and the National Milling Company of Guyana.  These companies have continued to give of their time and resources to the fight against HIV, even at a time when funding has been considerably reduced, and in some quarters altogether removed.
The Annual Awards for Business Excellence recognizes and highlights the best practices, unique skills, enthusiasm and commitment of the private sector in its national response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace and community.  Each year, the GBCHA is privileged to call for entries in the following five categories:  Workplace Programme, Outstanding Peer Educator, Core Competence, Community Investment, and Advocacy/Individual Leadership.

WINNERS
Edward B. Beharry & Company ran away with two awards in the categories of ‘Individual Leadership’ and ‘Outstanding Peer Educator’.  Both awards were won by Ms. Rohini Ramkumar.
The Guyana Revenue Authority copped the award for Workplace Programme
Scotiabank copped the award for Community Investment; and the Core Competency award was given to the National Milling Company of Guyana.
As of this year, the GBCHA has introduced a new category to the Awards — the Media Action Category. The organization said the new category was created because of the impact and reach of the media in spreading the message of HIV/AIDS, taking both a pro-active and re-active approach.  “It is meant to highlight a journalist who has contributed to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS through features in the print and electronic media,” a GBCHA spokesperson said. Unfortunately due to short notice no media entries were received.  The call for entries for the 2013 Awards was announced on April 4 last.  The deadline for submission was initially May 3, but was extended until May 10 because of the slow response rate, the secretariat admitted.
The GBCHA has advised that the initiative will be promoted at the next awards ceremony to demonstrate the resounding role the media (including electronic, print, social) plays as an instrument of change. It said that, in 2014, categories will be added to promote work done in Gender based Violence and Gender Health and Wellness programmes.
Judging of the applications was done on Monday, May 13.  Ten applications were received from five companies in the following categories:

*   Workplace Programme Category-three entries
*   Outstanding Peer Educator Category –    three entries
*   Community Investment Category – one entry
*   Core Competency Category – one entry

This year’s judges were Ms. Deborah Success-Hall of the National AIDS Pogramme Secretariat (NAPS); Ms. Karen Van Sluytman-Corbin of the Ministry of Labour;  and Ms. Valerie Beach-Horne of PANCAP.

AWARDEE PERFORMANCE
Workplace Programme (Organization and Group Award):  Ms. Janet Abbensetts of the Guyana Revenue Authority received the prize for sustained commitment to HIV Prevention and Behaviour Change; resilience through challenges; and continued partnerships for sustainability.
For Motivated and Continuous Service as an Outstanding Peer Educator – Ms. Jaunelle Marks received honourable mention.
The Outstanding Peer Educator Advocacy and Individual Leadership (Individual category) was won by Ms. Rohini Ramkumar, MRP Manager, who is also the lone Peer Educator and HIV Focal Person of Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd.
Core Competency:  For consistently reaching beyond the workplace, the award went to the National Milling Company of Guyana and to Scotiabank Guyana.
The National Milling Company was recognized for continuing to utilize its people and products in response to HIV. It demonstrated constant support towards the sustenance of the Food Bank for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) through partnerships with the Ministry of Health and NAPS, as well as through NGO outreach-breakfast for walk-a-thon and other donations to NGOs.  The plaque was received by Mr. Leon Gomes.
Scotiabank Guyana Limited received the
Community Investment award for continuing to demonstrate a year-round commitment to charity.  Through the Bank’s HIV and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) committees, fund-raising and awareness programmes are consistently held at the workplace and in communities.
Sponsors of the awards were the National AIDS Programme Secretariat; The International Labour Organization; PANCAP, and the New GPC Inc.
The following persons were among the distinguished gathering:  Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony; Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Jennifer Webster; UNAIDS Country Co-ordinator, Dr. Roberto Campos;  NAPS Programme Manager, Dr. Shanti Singh; and Chairperson of the GBCHA, Ms. Tracy Lewis.