CII established the India Business Trust for HIV/AIDS to increase the involvement of corporates in combating AIDS. Under this Trust, which has a strong focus on advocacy, CII has launched a number of AIDS in the workplace programs
CII - IBT Engagement in the Area of HIV / AIDS
CII took on the mandate of catalyzing industry's involvement in India's
social development in the early 1990s. It has undertaken a mission of
placing these social objectives on every boardroom agenda.
As a part of this process, CII began its HIV/AIDS prevention and care
program in 1996. Workplace intervention programs were initiated by CII
for its member companies shortly thereafter.
The Indian Business Trust (IBT) for HIV/ AIDS was established in 2000,
to bring focus to HIV/AIDS work, to engage business leadership, and
provide a forum for convergence for the business' response to AIDS.
IBT is headed by Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group, and consists
of CEOs of public and private-sector companies.
CII and IBT's ongoing activities in response to AIDS are outlined
below:
- The framing of an HIV/AIDS code for industry that includes development
of a workplace policy for industry, and framing of workplace protocols
that are standardized on ISO 9002.
- Implementation of an Aids in the Workplace program that has already
covered 2,000 corporations .
- A strong focus on advocacy with business, through programs such
as this.
- A commitment to get the 5,000member companies of CII to adopt the
HIV/AIDS Policy for Industry by the end of this year.
- A program to train health care professionals to equip them to deal
with HIV-positive cases and to enhance their skills with antiretroviral
treatment. Three hundred thirty doctors from 13 cities and 300 nurses
and lab technicians from 6 cities have been trained as part of this
program since its start in 2003.
- Partnership projects with NGOs to provide employment and income
generation, such as paper recycling work, to HIV-positive persons,
and donation of equipment and tools for this purpose.
- Establishment of a program to provide funds and mentoring to help
HIV-positive persons set up micro enterprises.
- Setting up counseling help lines in CII offices, the first of which
is operational in Lucknow.
- Advocacy against stigma and discrimination for people living with
HIV/AIDS through sports meets, walks, and other activities.
- Partnerships at the global level with international agencies as
well as the Global Business Coalition for HIV/AIDS and the Global
Heath Initiative of the World Economic Forum for advocacy and sharing
of best practices across countries and businesses.
- Mobilizing corporate-sector participation in the government-led
national program for enhancing drug availability, diagnostics facilities,
and care and support facilities for AIDS patients on antiretroviral
therapy (ART). In 2004 the CII donated four CD4 machines to the government
hospitals in Kohima, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Delhi.
- CII partnership in a NGO/private-sector consortium, a Global Fund
program for “access to care and treatment”
- CII mobilization, as part of this program, of corporate-sector participation
for setting up ART centers in corporate facilities. It is also doing
a smart card feasibility study for treatment adherence and evaluation
as part of this project.
- A corporate township program in which an integrated, comprehensive
AIDS intervention program is conducted in corporate townships. The
first of these will start with ACC, one of the largest players in
the cement industry.
- Looking at different media to carry out advocacy on HIV/AIDS, including
signing up a film actor as IBT's brand ambassador for HIV/AIDS.
Public service messages to create awareness of the issues relating
to HIV/AIDS will soon start on television.
- Setting up of a permanent secretariat, comprising professionals
to work in this area, at the voluntary counseling and testing center
, in the regions, and with one representative office in Washington,
DC.
- A commitment to work with the government to find innovative and
effective
mechanisms to join hands for programs and projects.
For more information please send email to iac@cii-usa.org
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