MHL launches HIV/AIDS policy

MAINLAND Holdings Limited (MHL) officially launched its HIV/AIDS Policy over the weekend during the 47th Morobe Show.
The 100% nationally owned MHL announced this in a press statement yesterday saying it was proud to announce the launch and now have a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) centre available to its employees at the company clinic at Six-Mile.
The VCT facilities will be operating under ANGAU Memorial Hospitals Anua Moriri day care centre.
In preparation for the launch MHL nurses and health educators participated in a workshop to familiarise themselves with HIV/AIDS counselling skills.
The workshop was conducted by the Anua Moriri day care centre in partnership with Morobe Provincial AIDS Council (MPAC).
During the launch at the Morobe Show the nurse educator gave out HIV/AIDS pamphlets to people who were there to see the company’s displays from its seven divisions.
“The objective is to minimise the possibility of HIV infection for employees and their families and ensure a supportive work environment for employees infected or affected by HIV/AIDS,” the statement said.
“We also aim to manage and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on Mainland Holdings Limited performance, and eliminate the stigma and the discrimination in the workplace whether in real or perceived HIV status,” it said.
The company said it recognised that prevention was the responsibility of all employees and was working to involve its employees in awareness, education and counselling.
MHL has condom dispensers at all work site ablution blocks and encourages employees to take the condoms as a protective measure against HIV/AIDS.
“We expect that all employees feel a responsibility to adhere to our policy guidelines and encourage our employees to practise responsible social behaviour to minimise the infection rate of HIV,” the statement said.
MHL will be networking with other HIV/AIDS support groups to strengthen and achieve acceptable standards in preventing the epidemic.