Engaging the Business Community in Preventing HIV/AIDS: Launch of the Aids Business Alliance

07 Nov 2005

The total number of HIV infected Singaporeans as of end June 2005 is 2,508. Of these infected Singaporeans, three out of every four are actively employed. The workplace is therefore an effective setting to promote HIV/AIDS education and prevention.

To encourage more companies to implement HIV/AIDS education and prevention programmes, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) will actively engage the support of the business community in Singapore through the formation of an AIDS Business Alliance. The business community together with the National Trade Unions Congress (NTUC), the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) can play a crucial role in preventing HIV/AIDS by educating employers, employees and their families about the disease.

The Alliance is chaired by Dr Wang Kai Yuen, Member of Parliament and Managing Director, Xerox Singapore Software Centre and comprises 14 other members from NTUC, SNEF and the private and public sectors.  Please refer to Annex 1 for the list of the Alliance members.

Focus of the Alliance

A key focus of the Alliance is to convince business leaders on the importance  of carrying out HIV/AIDS education at the workplace and to reduce discrimination and stigmatisation of people with HIV/AIDS. The Alliance also aims to mobilise more companies to champion HIV/AIDS education and prevention at the workplace and to create a supportive and non-discriminative environment in workplaces for people affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Terms of Reference of the AIDS Business Alliance is attached in Annex 2.

Peer-led HIV/AIDS Education Programme

To lead the way in HIV/AIDS education in the workplaces, MOH and HPB will be rolling out the Standard Chartered Bank's "Living with HIV" peer-led education programme. MOH and HPB have engaged the help of Standard Chartered to train a group of MOH and HPB staff so that they in turn can conduct HIV/AIDS awareness education for their colleagues. Using props and games, staff at MOH and HPB will learn what HIV/AIDS is about, how it is spread and protective measures. The "Living with HIV" training session for MOH and HPB staff will be held on 9 and 10 November 2005, 11.30 am to 1.00 pm at MOH and HPB respectively.

ANNEX 1

Members of AIDS Business Alliance

Chairman

Dr Wang Kai Yuen

MD, Xerox Singapore Software Centre

Vice-Chairman

Mr Nicholas de Boursac

ED, American Chamber of Commerce

Members

Mr Tan Kin Lian

CEO, NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative

Mr Douglas Foo

CEO, Apex-Pal International

Mr Nelson Yeo

ED, Keppel Shipyard Ltd (Tuas Yard)

Mr Christian W Huber

MD, Boncafe International Pte Ltd

Ms Euleen Goh

CEO, Standard Chartered Bank

Mr Russ Watson

MD, Merck Sharp & Dohme (Singapore) Ltd

Mr Chris Norton

GM, Four Seasons Hotel

Mr Henry Lim

Dy Group CEO, MediaCorp

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang

Director, Quality Lifestyle, NTUC

Mr Koh Juan Kiat

ED, Singapore National Employers' Federation

BG Wong Yue Sie

Chief Medical Office, SAF MINDEF

A/P Leo Yee Sin

Head, Communicable Disease Centre

Mr Lam Pin Woon

CEO, Health Promotion Board

ANNEX 2

The terms of reference of the AIDS Business Alliance are to:

(1) Develop and facilitate health education programmes on HIV/AIDS at the workplace.

(2) Establish guidelines for dealing with HIV/AIDS at the workplace.

(3) Promote non-discrimination policies in the workplace against HIV positive employees.

(4) Identify indicators for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the work of the AIDS Business Alliance.

(5) Build business capacity to manage the impact of HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

(6) Develop an operational workplan for HIV/AIDS projects with timelines and key milestones.