Academic literature on the topic 'AIDS Disease – Government policy – Canada'

Anthropologists have been involved in the implementation of culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS intervention programs since the advent of the disease. The tradition of applied research in areas like health in "developing" countries and urban "street cultures" (e.g., homeless and low income people, various drug scenes) since the 1950s make it a discipline well-suited to the study of HIV/AIDS, which is often associated with poor and socially marginalized groups. However, the stigma connected to the disease and the lack of political will to initiate structural changes to effectively deal with HIV/AIDS are two key factors prohibiting the establishment of long-term social and policy changes for communities at risk. These conditions have attributed to the growth of HIV/AIDS- related non-government organizations (NGOs), which have been instrumental in dealing with many aspects of the disease. Yet these groups are often faced with the challenge of balancing their clients' needs with program requirements of funding agencies. My involvement with NGOs in a western Canadian city and rural south India exposed some of the tensions these groups experience as they try to meet the demands of clients and funders. Some of these tensions reveal similar problems within NGO environments and others highlight different strategies for sustainability that reflect local constraints as well as strengths. Thus, the comparison of these cases should be of use to a discussion of HIV/AIDS research within applied anthropology and the broader discourse of NGO responses to the epidemic.

With advances in therapeutics, effective therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has shifted the focus of HIV care from an acute illness to a chronic disease requiring the services of several disciplines in a primary care setting. This article describes a collaborative model in the delivery of HIV care for HIV-infected individuals who remain fragile, both physically and psychosocially.

With advances in therapeutics, effective therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has shifted the focus of HIV care from an acute illness to a chronic disease requiring the services of several disciplines in a primary care setting. This article describes a collaborative model in the delivery of HIV care for HIV-infected individuals who remain fragile, both physically and psychosocially.

The current economic, marketing and policy constraints facing the animal production industry in Canada are examined. An historical review indicates the consequences (sometimes unintended) of economic or policy changes in the past in the areas of land settlement, marketing and grading. Natural factors constraining production such as gestation periods and climate and human factors such as consumption potential both physically and socially are considered. Government policy is identified as a key determinant in the animal production industry and an alternative explanation of the activity of government in the economy is outlined. The effect of economic and policy variables including interest rates, feed prices, economies of scale, productivity gains, trade policy, tax policy, grain and livestock marketing and stabilization on animal production are described. Throughout, the importance of government policy in determining the development of the animal production industry is emphasized. The major areas of tax policy and grain support programs in Western Canada are key determinants of regional livestock production patterns. The future of these policies is uncertain and this uncertainty is a major constraint to animal production in Canada. Uncertainty has always been a major constraint on animal production. Producers have developed mechanisms to deal with market variation, biological factors such as disease, fluctuating interest rates and the whims of the environment. However, a major source of uncertainty has not been addressed: — government policy. In part, this uncertainty is due to the on-again, off-again policies governments have followed. But history indicates it is foolish to believe that all important variables are within the control of government. Policy evolves through a political process that often reflects the interests of special interest groups rather than the long-term interests of producers or consumers. Change occurs slowly, impeded by resistance from those in favored positions within the current system. Policy uncertainty remains as a key variable to be addressed by the livestock industry in Canada. Key words: Animal production, economic constraints, policy constraints, policy uncertainty

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted the health policy debate in Canada. While the pre-pandemic focus of policy experts and government reports was on the question of whether to add outpatient pharmaceuticals to universal health coverage, the clustering of pandemic deaths in long-term care facilities has spurred calls for federal standards in long-term care (LTC) and its possible inclusion in universal health coverage. This has led to the probability that the federal government will attempt to expand medicare as Canadians have known it for the first time in over a half century. However, these efforts are likely to fail if the federal government relies on the shared-cost federalism that marked the earlier introduction of medicare. Two alternative pathways are suggested, one for LTC and one for pharmaceuticals, that are more likely to succeed given the state of the Canadian federation in the early 21st century.

The AIDS epidemic in Nicaragua is several years behind that in the United States and neighboring countries of Central and South America. A combination of events, including the isolation caused by the war of the U.S.-backed Contra army against the Sandinista government, the complete economic embargo imposed on Nicaragua by the United States in 1985, self-sufficiency for blood products, and a low rate of recreational injectable-drug use, have contributed to this situation. Since the Sandinistas were defeated in the general election of 1990, people have returned to Nicaragua from areas where HIV is more prevalent, such as Honduras and the United States. It is probable that many HIV-infected persons have now entered the country. Because of the high rates of sexually transmitted diseases and cultural factors such as “machismo,” HIV is likely to spread rapidly by heterosexual transmission, unless effective, culturally appropriate education and sexually transmitted disease prevention programs are implemented now.

Everyday foodborne parasites, which are endemic in Canada, include the protozoansEntamoeba histolytica,Giardia lambliaandCryptosporidium parvum.However, these parasites are most frequently acquired through unfiltered drinking water, homosexual activity or close personal contact such as in daycare centres and occasionally via a food vehicle. It is likely that many foodborne outbreaks from these protozoa go undetected. Transmission of helminth infections, such as tapeworms, is rare in Canada because of effective sewage treatment. However, a common foodborne parasite of significance isToxoplasma gondii. Although infection can be acquired from accidental ingestion of oocysts from cat feces, infection can also result from consumption of tissue cysts in undercooked meat, such as pork or lamb. Congenital transmission poses an immense financial burden, costing Canada an estimated $240 million annually. Also of concern is toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients, which may lead to toxoplasmosis encephalitis, the second most common AIDS-related opportunistic infection of the central nervous system. Exotic parasites (ie, those acquired from abroad or from imported food) are of growing concern because more Canadians are travelling and the number of Canada?s trading partners is increasing. Since 1996, over 3000 cases ofCyclosporainfection reported in the United States and Canada were epidemiologically associated with importation of Guatemalan raspberries. Unlike toxoplasmosis, where strategies for control largely rest with individual practices, control of cyclosporiasis rests with government policy, which should prohibit the importation of foods at high risk.

This article examines the role of NGOs in complementing government efforts towards the achievement of millennium development goal of combating HIV and AIDS by 2015. Documentary research, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to investigate the extent to which government and NGOs coordinate their functions to avoid duplication of functions in their areas of operation as well as examining the net effect of NGO involvement in HIV/AIDS programmes. Evidence from researches points tovisible Government commitment to the eradication of the disease as evidenced by the formulation of the National Aids policy and the formation of the parliamentary portfolio committee on health. NGOs have also played a pivotal role in HIV and AIDS programmes by implementing government policies both in urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe. Notwithstanding this, lack of coordination of functions between NGOs and government has derailed the national response as studies highlight concentration of HIV/AIDS programmes in some areas whilst other areas have no programmes at all. Government’s requirement that NGOs must submit their work plans has not been adhered to by NGOs leading to mutual suspicion between the two. NGOs should comply with government demands to avoid cancellation of their contracts and the government must create a conducive working environment for NGOs for the attainment of MDG six.

This article represents a critical analysis of the major policy responses to workplace health and safety in Canada. It examines the deficiencies inherent in the legislative development of Joint Health and Safety Committees in most Canadian jurisdictions, the limitations regarding standard-setting of worker exposure to contaminants, and disincentive for employers to positively improve the workplace because of Workers Compensation legislation. Collective bargaining agreements in Canada have had only limited positive effects, while the ultimate legal sanction of criminal prosecution by the regulatory agencies has weakened enforcement and compliance of existing regulations. There has never been a successful criminal prosecution of an employer in Canada, even for multiple deaths. The article suggests the following four reasons for this “underdevelopment” of occupational health and safety in Canada: (1) the concealment of the dimension of the incidence of industrial disease based on Workers Compensation Board statistics; (2) the application of an incorrect theory of causation of both industrial disease and injury by both managers and government administrators of occupational health and safety programs; (3) the resistance of both senior and middle managers against increased worker participation in both work organization and job design questions; and (4) the general “moral underdevelopment,” rather than ignorance, of managers in favoring economic considerations or values at the expense of worker health and safety. In light of the magnitude of the problem and the deficiencies of existing policy approaches, the author proposes the need for greater workplace democratization of production and industry as a necessary and sufficient reform of workplace health and safety.

One of the diseases that is now considered a problem that has received enough attention from the government is HIV and AIDS. Talking about HIV and AIDS means it discusses health issues that are currently quite sensitive to talk about. This relates to the unique nature of this disease. Besides the case which is like an iceberg phenomenon, namely the spread of HIV and AIDS cases that cannot be predicted at the initial phase and also has not found a cure to cure it. The purpose of this study is to obtain in-depth data on the implementation of HIV/AIDS policies in the Model Health Center, whether the policies made by the government run well or not in the field. This research uses a qualitative research method with descriptive research type on June 28, 2019, by interviewing informants and distributing questionnaires. As for the total overall value of the Government Policy Implementation is 235. The value of the implementation of government policies, amounting to 78.33% of the 100% expected results. The overall total value of HIV and AIDS is 83. HIV/AIDS counts in the working area of the Exemplary Health Center, which is 92.22% of the 100% expected results. Conclusions policy implementation has been going well and has been socialized to the community and health services, people at risk and sufferers of HIV/AIDS in the work area of the Community Health Center already has its own organization where this organization is expected to help achieve the goals of this HIV/AIDS program, and to achieve this goal the Community Health Center conducts activities in the form of mobile clinics where the exemplary Community Health Center goes directly to conduct examinations to the community, and in terms of treatment for patients so far it can be said to be in good category and runs smoothly but there are obstacles where sufferers continue to do things that can trigger the development of the HIV virus although in addition patients continue to take drugs to inhibit and minimize the development of the HIV virus.

Despite the profound impacts of HIV and AIDS on all sectors of South African society, governmental responses to the AIDS epidemic have been inundated with contradiction, conflict and contestation. Though governmental leaders have justified not funding HIV treatment programs because they believe that poverty needs to be dealt with first, social spending has been slashed as part of an adherence to a neo-liberal economic model. Though it would seem that the government would seem to have everything to gain by establishing a cooperative relationship with non-governmental actors regarding the epidemic, the relationship between the government and non-governmental actors has instead been described as nothing short of hostile. Though the government enthusiastically backed Virodene, a supposed treatment for AIDS that turned out to be no more than an industrial solvent, other ‘scientifically backed’ AIDS treatments have been treated with caution and skepticism – to the point where the government even refused to provide funding for programs to prevent mother to child transmission of the virus. And perhaps the most perplexing is that although widely respected for his intellect and cool demeanor, former President Mbeki chose to risk his political career on the AIDS issue by shunning away from the mainstream consensus on the biomedical causes of the epidemic and instead surrounded himself and sought advice from AIDS ‘dissidents’ This thesis will seek explanations for these apparent contradictions. Using Bourdieu’s (1986) typology of capitals, it will build on an argument put forward by Helen Schneider (2002): from the South African government’s perspective, the contestation regarding HIV and AIDS policy and implementation is over symbolic capital, or the right to legitimately hold and exercise political power regarding the epidemic. Though this argument helps explain the conflictual relationship between the government and non-governmental actors regarding the AIDS crisis, in order to understand the perplexing contradictions within the governmental policy response, the political context of policy formation must first be taken into consideration.

This study was concerned with the social construction of HIV/AIDS at the policy level in contemporary South Africa, and how such constructions shape the manner in which the epidemic is understood in popular discourse.

HIV/AIDS has been an obstacle to socio-economic development and a major cause of loss of human life. It has also caused vast inequities and frustration to the public health sector. One of the significant efforts made by the public health sector to combat the epidemic is the implementation of a mandatory HIV/AIDS testing policy to scale-up HIV treatment. This dissertation examines the impact of this policy on the human rights of people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Coercive government policies aimed at controlling the AIDS pandemic often infringe on the rights of individuals known to be or suspected of living with HIV/AIDS and this decreases the effectiveness of public health measures. The research methodology involved the study of written literature and a comparative literature study of the law and practice obtaining in South Africa, Uganda and Canada. It revealed that voluntary testing is effective and suitable in South Africa. This dissertation aimed to show that any public health approach that aims to achieve a comprehensive prevention strategy must be consistent with respect for human rights as enshrined in regional and international human rights law. Public health and human rights should, therefore, not be regarded as opposing forces; rather they should be seen as a unified system of protection of human welfare under the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The solution to the crisis lies not only in testing every single person but also requires a shift of focus to more pressing issues that include gender equality, stigma and discrimination; prioritizing human rights, institutional capacity and resources; and an end to extreme poverty. A human rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS testing, such as the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is recommended. Therefore, failure to adhere to the core principles of testing - which are informed consent, counselling and confidentiality of the test result - will only hinder the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The rights of those affected by HIV/AIDS need to be protected in order to address public health imperatives. This can be done through the use of the law as an instrument of social change as well as education and awareness. Key words, HIV/AIDS, mandatory testing, Voluntary Counselling and Testing, public health, human rights-based approach.

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Bachelors
Arts and Sciences
Political Science

HIV/AIDS is a deadly disease that needs to be addressed with immediate effect before serious damage can occur. Because the government has a responsibility over the health of its citizens, everybody expects the government to take a lead in the fight against this epidemic and from the look of things the government's strategies are not making the desired impact on the epidemic. The author attempted to highlight that the South African government has not played a satisfactory role in the fight against this pandemic, which threatens to alter history to a degree not seen in the world.

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The implementation of national policies is a key function of government through its various departments. This is very crucial in the health sector where lives of individuals are involved. The implementation of the national HIV/AIDS policy is very important in dealing with the epidemic. This study combined both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse the implementation of the South African government’s national HIV/AIDS policy in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province. The quantitative phase involved the stratified sampling process, resulting in identifying 2 health workers from each of the 25 health units in the district comprising of 22 community clinics, the infection control unit, the counselling unit at the hospital and 2 from among the doctors. A total of fifty respondents were selected from a workforce of about 500. The staff profile indicates that 76 % of the health workers interviewed were below 40 years of age and 28% of them were chief professional nurses. Of the health workers, 78 % had been in the current position for between 1 and 5 years, 6 % for 6 to 10 years, 6 % for 16 or more years and 10 % for less than one year. All of them had a diploma as a minimum qualification, 8 % had 2 diplomas, 2 % had 3 or more diplomas, 2% had degrees and 2 % had a degree plus diplomas. In terms of HIV/AIDS policy implementation, 100% of all the facilities provided HIV prevention information to clients, 60% of these facilities worked with other organisations in HIV prevention, but only 4% had voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services. In these health units only 28% had had staff trained regarding HIV/AIDS issues. In addition 96 % of the health units had the male condom stocked at any one time and only 12 % stocked the female condom. In terms of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) control, all clinics were using the syndromic approach in management of STDs and also claimed to have youth-friendly services. On the other hand only 80 % of the facilities had had staff trained in STD management using the syndromic approach. In the area of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, (PMTCT) none of the clinics had VCT services for pregnant women and only 8% of them had PMTCT counsellors. Because of the lack of VCT services only 4% of the clinics had known HIV positive mothers attending the antenatal care services. On the issue of post-exposure prophylaxis (P.E.P.) all clinics had protocols for this and 88% of them had antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) stocked for post-exposure treatment for health workers. However, only 8% of these clinics had a betadine douche as the only post-exposure intervention for raped women. In the area of treatment care and support for patients none of these clinics offered ARVs, 24 % had protocols for prevention and management of opportunistic infections, 4% were involved in any form of home-based care, 4% had HIV/AIDS dedicated services and 24% collaborated with community non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in HIV/AIDS care. The qualitative phase of the study highlighted what health workers perceived as prominent features of the national HIV/AIDS policy and these included prevention of HIV by use of condoms, faithfulness and pre-test counselling. The respondents also interpreted the social response by government to include provision of home-based care, care of orphans, food provision and safe guarding rights of victims. Other issues that were perceived to be part of the national HIV/AIDS policy were STD management, health education, provision of training to health workers in HIV/AIDS issues, provision of home-based care and occupational health and safety for health workers. The government was also perceived to have a negative attitude towards AIDS NGOs, not providing adequate numbers of the female condom and denying patients antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). The recommendations made on the basis of the study therefore include strengthening the training of health workers in HIV/AIDS care and management, improved provision of VCT services, wider distribution of the female condom, provision of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services and the linking of research and care to provide evidence-based practice. Other recommendations are that there should be support programmes for health workers with HIV, addressing gender issues in implementation and provision of ARVs especially where it is already known that they help.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van nasionale beleid is ‘n sleutelfunksie van die regering, verrig deur sy onderskeie departemente. Dit is veral deurslaggewend in die gesondheidsektor waar die lewens van individue op die spel is en die implementering van die nasionale MIV/VIGS- beleid is baie belangrik in die hantering van die epidemie. In hierdie studie is beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes gekombineer om implementering van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se nasionale MIV/VIGS -beleid in die Vhembe-distrik van die Limpopo-provinsie te analiseer. Die kwantitatiewe fase het ‘n gestratifiseerde steekproefproses behels, wat gelei het tot die identifisering van 2 gesondheidswerkers uit elk van die 25 gesondheidseenhede in die distrik, bestaande uit 22 gemeenskapsklinieke, die infeksie-beheereenheid, die beradingseenheid by die hospitaal en die geledere van die dokters. So is ‘n totaal van 50 respondente geselekteer uit ‘n arbeidmag van ongeveer 500. Die personeelprofiel dui aan dat 76% van die gesondheidswerkers wat ondervra is jonger as 40 jaar was en dat 28% van hulle hoof professionele verpleegsters was. Van die gesondheidswerkers was 78% vir 1 tot 5 jaar in hul bestaande posisie , 6% vir 6 tot 10 jaar, 6% vir 16 of meer jare en 10% vir minder as 1 jaar. Almal van hulle het ‘n diploma as ‘n minimum kwalifikasie gehad, 8% het 2 diplomas, 2% het 3 of meer diplomas, 2% het grade en 2% het ‘n graad plus diplomas gehad. In terme van die MIV/VIGS beleidsimplementering het 100% van die fasiliteite MIV- voorkomingsinligting aan kliënte verskaf, 60% van hierdie fasiliteite in samewerking met ander organisasies , terwyl slegs 4% vrywillige berading en toetsdienste verskaf het. Slegs 28% van die gesondheidseenhede het oor personeel beskik met opleiding in MIV/VIGSkwessies. Verder het 96% van die gesondheidseenhede die manlike kondoom in voorraad gehad teenoor slegs 12% eenhede die vroulike kondoom. In terme van die seksueel-oordraagbare siektebeheer, het al die klinieke die sindroom-benadering in die bestuur van seksueel- oordraagbare siektes toegepas en het beweer dat hulle dienste jeugvriendelik is. Daarteenoor het slegs 80% van die fasiliteite beskik oor personeel wat opgelei was in seksueel- oordraagbare siektebestuur met toepassing van die sindroombenadering. Op die terrein van voorkoming van moeder- na- kind- oordraging van HIV het geen van die klinieke oor vrywillige berading en toetsdienste vir swanger vroue beskik nie en slegs 8% van hulle het wel moeder-na-kind– oordragingsberaders gehad. As gevolg van die gebrek aan vrywillige berading en toetsdienste het slegs 4% van die klinieke kennis gedra van HIV- positiewe moeders wat voorgeboortelike sorgdienste bygewoon het. Wat na-blootstellingsvoorbehoeding aanbetref, het alle klinieke protokolle gehad en 88% het antiretrovirale medisyne in voorraad gehad vir nablootstellingsbehandeling van gesondheidswerkers. Slegs 8% van hierdie klinieke het egter ‘n betadine-spoeling(“douche”) as die enigste nablootstelling intervensie vir verkragte vroue gehad. Op die gebied van die behandeling van en ondersteuning aan pasiënte het geen van hierdie klinieke die antiretrovirale medisyne aangebied nie, 24% het protokolle vir die voorkoming en bestuur van geleentheidsinfeksies gehad, 4% was betrokke in enige vorm van tuisgebaseerde sorg, 4% het oor MIV/VIGS -gerigte dienste beskik en 24% het met gemeenskapsvrywilligerorganisasies saamgewerk in die voorsiening van MIV/VIGS-sorg. Die kwalitatiewe fase van die studie fokus op wat gesondheidswerkers beskou as prominente kenmerke van die nasionale MIV/VIGS- beleid en wat insluit die voorkoming van HIV deur die gebruik van kondome, getrouheid en voortoets- berading. Die respondente vertolk die regering se sosiale reaksie as insluitend die verskaffing van tuisgebaseerde sorg, die versorging van weeskinders, voedselvoorsiening en die beveiliging van slagoffers se regte. Ander kwessies wat ook gesien word as deel van die nasionale MIV/VIGS beleid is seksueel- oordraagbare siektebeheer, gesondheidopvoeding, die verskaffing van opleiding aan gesondheidswerkers in MIV/VIGS-probleme, die voorsiening van tuisgebaseerde sorg en beroepsgesondheid en veiligheid vir gesondheids werkers. Die regering se houding teenoor VIGS vrywilligerorganisasies is ook as negatief vertolk deur onvoldoende hoeveelhede van die vroulike kondoom te verskaf en antiretrovirale medisyne te weerhou van pasiënte. Die aanbevelings wat op grond van die studie gemaak is, sluit in die verbeterde opleiding van gesonheidswerkers in MIV/VIGS-sorg en -bestuur, verbeterde verskaffing van vrywillige berading en toetsdienste, wyer verspreiding van die vroulike kondoom, verskaffing van MIV-dienste vir die voorkoming van moeder-na-kind-oordraging en die konnektering van navorsing en sorg om ‘n inligtingsbaseerde praktyk te skep. Ander aanbevelings is dat daar ondersteuningsprogramme vir gesondheidswerkers met MIV behoort te wees wat geslagskwessies aanspreek in die implementering en verskaffing van antiretrovirale medisyne waar dit reeds bekend is dat dit wel help.

The aim of this research was to provide a preliminary investigation of how the HIV and AIDS epidemic will impact on management of municipalities, specifically George Municipality. Municipalities provide a large proportion of essential basic services and also represent one of the primary opportunities for public participation and decision-making at a community level. This paper takes George Municipality in the Western Cape as a case study of the current and potential impact of HIV and AIDS on public demand for services and on the municipality's capacity to govern and provide services. It also reviews the responses of the municipality to HIV and AIDS.The research was conducted using a questionnaire which was distributed to municipal officials in the different departments but also included a review of relevant literature and analysis of quantitative data. The study focused on a single case: An investigation into the impact of HIV and AIDS on municipal management of George Municipality. The study identified strategies utilised by the municipality to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS. The study drew on people's experiences, perceptions and interpretations of the impact of HIV and AIDS on municipal management, responses and any other related factors that may have impeded the realisation of the reduction of the impact of HIV and AIDS on municipal management in the George Municipality.Fifty questionnaires were distributed, 40 copies by hand delivery and ten copies via e-mail to employees ranging from general worker to senior management. Employees participated in the study through interviews and answering of the questionnaires. An internet search was also conducted using Wed Crawler and by visiting the official website of the George Municipality for all policies, minutes, reports and all other relevant documents regarding HIV and AIDS. The researcher also drew on personal observations because she has been in George for almost six years and is also employed by George Municipality. Participants who were selected by the researcher for interviews purposes were five councillors and five ward committee members because councillors are decision makers in the municipality. The rest were given questionnaires to complete. Data was analysed by using interpretation analysis, namely codes to explain data collected. Results were presented in the form of tables and conclusions warranted by the data are presented. Statistical analysis was done to check correlation between the different aspects in the questionnaire. According to the research findings it can be confirmed that more of the budget needs to be allocated for employment of suitably qualified persons like occupational nurses, who will drive HIV and AIDS education and awareness campaigns. HIV and AIDS mainstreaming should be regarded as a priority in order make people aware about the realities of HIV and AIDS in communities. Leadership and management buy-in should be obtained to win the fight against the epidemic. A comprehensive strategy should be compiled and implemented to reduce the spread and stigma of HIV and AIDS. Proper planning should be done for compiling the strategy. This strategy should specify the budget for HIV and AIDS and how HIV and AIDS is going to be integrated into an IDP. Prevention and management strategies used by the organisation should be explained.

Increasing HIV infection rates affect government employees as much as workers in other places. While government has responded to the evolving crisis with a number of policy documents, little is known about the implementation of such policies in government departments. This study assessed the HIV/AIDS policy in the Department of Labour and identified weakness in the implementation. The results of the study may be used by the Dept. of Labour to improve its implementation if necessary.

Although South Africa has the largest AIDS treatment program in the world, the ANC’s mishandling of the epidemic post-apartheid nevertheless contributed significantly to the spread of the disease. Unlike in Thailand or Brazil – where in many instances professional movements partnered with the state to respond to citizen needs and expand access to antiretroviral therapy – legal movements in South Africa however confronted a remarkably different dynamic: an intransigent government that, by virtue of unrivaled electoral majority, enjoyed the luxury of entertaining dissident AIDS science and experimenting with charlatan AIDS policy. While the strategic actions of the AIDS Law Project and the Treatment Action Campaign would eventually compel government action, initial government intransigence and the long and drawn-out nature of the legal process would prove to have horrific consequences, measured in hundreds of thousands of lost lives.