Monrovia — The Chairperson of the National AIDS Commission (NAC), Dr. Cecelia J. Nuta, has called for the eradication of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in the workplace. Speaking at the Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACS) HIV Focal Persons Coalition meeting, Dr. Nuta emphasized the critical role of government entities in mainstreaming HIV initiatives across all sectors of employment.
During the meeting, held with MACS Coalition President Clarence Mulbah and other distinguished members, Dr. Nuta highlighted the importance of partnerships between NAC and various government bodies. “Our presence here today signifies the importance we attach to the partnership that exists between you and the National AIDS Commission, and the work you continue to do in mainstreaming HIV at the workplace across Government functionaries,” she stated.
Dr. Nuta underscored that addressing stigma and discrimination in the workplace is essential to achieving the goals set out in the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan II (2021-2026). She stressed that despite the visibility of HIV in the workplace, there remains much to be done. The 2022 Stigma Index survey conducted by the Liberia Network of Persons Living with HIV revealed that 44.8% of people living with HIV reported being unemployed, with women facing higher rates of unemployment compared to men.
“Mandatory HIV testing has been used as a prerequisite for work in some sectors, and the lack of confidentiality of HIV status remains a key barrier to employment for people living with HIV,” Dr. Nuta noted. She called on members of the coalition to champion the implementation of the HIV Workplace Policy and the Zero Discrimination Action Plan within their institutions.
Dr. Nuta further detailed the government’s efforts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and the National Tripartite Committee, supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), to develop a National HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy. This policy aims to curtail the spread of HIV in the workplace and align with the broader goals of the NSP II.
The HIV Workplace Policy is grounded in several international labor standards and conventions, including Convention No. 111 on non-discrimination in Employment and Occupation, Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health, Convention No. 158 on Termination of Employment, and Convention No. 150 on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. These conventions provide the legal framework for protecting the human rights of workers, including those living with HIV.
Dr. Nuta expressed optimism that the meeting would foster strategic discussions on how coalition members can mainstream HIV interventions within their institutions. She urged government institutions to take the lead, with plans to extend these efforts to the private sector to ensure comprehensive HIV workplace integration.
“Together, we can ensure zero stigma and discrimination to end AIDS by 2030,” Dr. Nuta concluded, reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to a stigma-free work environment for all individuals living with HIV.
Recently, the National AIDS Commission has been leading advocacy efforts to stop the spread of the virus, with the latest being the launch of a National Dialogue on the HIV Sustainability Roadmap in the country.
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