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10 Facts You Should Know about HIV/AIDS

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Business and HIV/AIDS – The Business Case

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HIV/AIDS policy The Shell Company of Thailand

1. Introduction

AIDS means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus or HIV. This virus attacks the body’s natural defensive system and reduces a person’s ability to resist various infections and diseases. It also makes a person more susceptible to cancers.

AIDS is, without doubt, the most serious public health problem facing the world at the present time and have repercussions on many aspects of our lives. It is a “democratic” disease affecting the rich and poor, the educated and uneducated in society. Globally, there are already at least ten million people infected with HIV, and about 5,000 more become infected each day - a worldwide epidemic.

In the absence of systematic screening and standardized reporting procedures in most countries in Asia, it is not possible to assess the exact size of the HIV-infected population. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one million people in Asia are currently infected with HIV, with the highest prevalence observed in India and Thailand. According to the WHO projection, the annual incidence of HIV infection in Asia will continue to rise until the next century. Without further doubt, AIDS represents an urgent problem in Thailand with broad social, cultural, economic, political, ethical and legal dimensions and impacts.

Epidemiological studies from throughout the world have demonstrated that HIV is transmitted in only three ways :

(a) through sexual intercourse (including semen donation);
(b) through blood (principally blood transfusions and non-sterile injection equipment, also includes organ or tissue transplant);
(c) from infected mother to infant (perinatal transmission).

There is no evidence to suggest that HIV is transmitted through mosquito or insect bites, food, water, sneezing, coughing, urine, sweat, tears; or by using toilets, swimming pools, and sharing eating and drinking utensils or other items such as protective clothing or telephones. There is also no evidence to suggest that HIV can be transmitted by social, person-to-person contact, e.g., shaking hands, hugging, etc.

Initially, the majority of HIV-infected persons are healthy; but over time, they may develop HIV-related conditions or full-blown AIDS or they may still remain healthy. Approximately 90 per cent of HIV-infected persons worldwide are in the economically productive age-groups, the key to the work force, which is of direct and vital importance to the business community to the entire society.

In the vast majority of occupations and occupational settings, work does not involve a risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV between workers, from workers to clients, or from clients to workers. In only a few occupations, such as health workers, may a recognized risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV occur.

2. Company policy and guidelines

The purpose of this policy and guidelines is to provide guidance to all staff of the Shell Companies in Thailand to consider issues raised by HIV infection/AIDS in the workplace.

Principles

• Non-discrimination:
The Company will not discriminate against staff on grounds of health (i.e. staff with or without HIV infection) as long as medically fit for available, appropriate work.

• Education and counseling:
The responsibility of the Company is to safeguard the health of all staff and not to put them at risk of infection with HIV, by giving appropriate advice to staff generally and, on a confidential basis, counseling infected staff as necessary.

2.1 New recruit

Pre-employment HIV/AIDS screening as part of the assessment of fitness to work is unnecessary and should not be required. Screening here refers to direct methods (HIV testing) or indirect methods (assessment of risk behaviors) or to questions about HIV tests already taken. Because HIV-infected persons may remain healthy for years, there is no need to discriminate against them. The Company will recruit new staff using criteria of “expected” fitness to work.

2.2 Permanent staff

2.2.1 HIV/AIDS screening: HIV/AIDS screening, whether direct (HIV testing), indirect (Assessment of risk behaviors) or asking questions about HIV tests already taken, should not be required. However, this screening test may be performed in special circumstances, such as screening of blood before transfusion, testing with informed consent to establish a diagnosis of staff suffering ill health, or screening for the purpose of obtaining a work permit or to fulfill the local requirements of certain countries.

2.2.2 Confidentality: Confidentiality regarding all medical information, including HIV/AIDS status, will be maintained.

2.2.3 Informing superior: There is no obligation for staff inform their superiors regarding his or her HIV/AIDS status.

2.2.4 Protection: Staff in the workplace affected by, or perceived to be affected by HIV/AIDS, will be protected from discrimination by co-workers, clients or their superiors. Information and education are essential to maintain the climate of mutual understanding necessary to ensure this protection.

2.2.5 Access to services: Staff and their families will have access to information and educational programs on HIV/AIDS, as well as to relevant counseling and appropriate referral.

2.2.6 Benefits: Staff who are infected with HIV will not be discriminated against, including access to and receipt of benefits from the Company.

2.2.7 Reasonable changes in working environment: HIV infection by itself is not associated with any limitation in fitness to work. If fitness is impaired by HIV-related conditions/AIDS, reasonable alternative working arrangements will be made where practicable.

2.2.8 Continuation of employment relationship: HIV infection is not a cause of termination of employment. As with many other illnesses, staff with HIV-related conditions/AIDS will be able to work as long as medically fit for available, appropriate work.

2.2.9 First aid: In any situation requiring first aid in the workplace, precautions will be taken to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV, a blood-borne infection. (see attached)

2.3 Sharing workplace: There are no reasonable grounds for staff to refuse to share a workplace with a colleague who is infected with HIV. Refusal to share a workplace will not accommodated by the Company.

2.4 Precautions: Accidental infection through contaminated syringes and needles or blood transfusion, whilst a possibility, is, under normal circumstances, a very rare event and can largely be avoided. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the Company to provide :

2.4.1 blood typing to all staff in order to facilitate transfusions should it become
necessary.

2.4.2 syringes and needles to business travelers to countries where medical and
dental facilities are not up to standard.

2.4.3 education and awareness to all newly-arrived expatriates on current AIDS
situation.

2.4.4 a copy of this policy statement will be given to all new recruits.

3. Summary

The countries of Asia (and indeed Thailand) are in a position to learn from the
experiences of Africa, the USA and Europe. There are thriving tourist industries and
differing degrees of prostitution and drug abuse in the region. The potential for
widespread infection exists and the problems of coping with the disease will be
considerable, particularly where there are large populations and widespread poverty.

Education and awareness are considered to be the most essential components in the
AIDS program. AIDS education must be provided continuously in order to change the
sexual attitudes and behaviors among our population.
 

“THE RISK OF AIDS IS NOT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE.
AIDS IS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO”