AS the business sector continues to demonstrate commitment to a sustained, multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited is the latest entity to join the Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBCHA).

Republic Bank has a strong community investment programme titled “The Power to Make a Difference”.

Managing Director of Republic Bank, Mr. John Alves highlighted the importance of maintaining the gains of the investment made by the business sector in reducing the spread of HIV. He indicated that much work was done within Republic Bank to formulate and implement workplace policies and programmes with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) supported project, which ended in early 2014.

Consistent training is conducted for employees to raise awareness and to equip them with skills needed to share knowledge in the workplace, homes, and communities at large.

COLLABORATION
He added that Republic Bank was looking forward to collaborating with fellow members of the Coalition, government and non-governmental organisations in order to mitigate the impact of HIV in Guyana.

GBCHA is a membership organisation which supports the business sector in promoting healthy lifestyles in the workplace and community. The Coalition assists members in the development of programmes, workplace policies, and distributes resource materials.

Mr. Troy Peters, Board Member of GBCHA, was also present at the official signing. He stated that due to the successes of the members’ HIV workplace and community programmes, the scope of GBCHA’s work has now extended into general health and wellness.

In this regard, work has commenced with members on issues relating to mental health, domestic violence, and non-communicable diseases. These initiatives are done in partnership with the Ministries of Health and Human Services and Social Security and NGOs such as Help and Shelter.

Ms. Suzanne French, Executive Director of GBCHA, welcomed Republic Bank as a member of the Coalition and highlighted the opportunity that the members have in reducing stigma and discrimination within and outside of the workplace and to support prevention and other initiatives of the national programme.

Activities were conducted at the workplaces of GBCHA member organisations and the Coalition’s Secretariat to commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1st. These included information sessions for staff and customers and the distribution of brochures, and male and female condoms.

Meanwhile, at Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) activities in observance of World AIDS Day included a workshop on HIV/AIDS, held on the premises and addressed by Mr. Asif Gafoor, DDL’s Environmental Occupational Safety and Health Officer.