The Namibia National Teachers’ Union, NANTU, has produced a comprehensive HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy. The document, which was drafted in consultation with the legal assistance centre in Namibia, was launched on 21 June during the National Teachers’ Council Meeting. NANTU plans to attune their EFAIDS activities to the policy and integrate it into training.
The policy reflects NANTU’s ongoing commitment to involving teachers living with HIV in all union structures and throughout the education sector. Basilius Haingura, Secretary General of NANTU states, “since education is a tool of social transformation, NANTU has a role to play in empowering members, employees and the nation at large to deal with HIV and AIDS better”.
NANTU is proactive in advancing protection and support for their members living with HIV and AIDS, and has an established network for teachers living with HIV numbering sixty registered members. A culture of openness about HIV and AIDS is promoted as central to curbing stigma NANTU plan to review and update their existing policy on Gender in the coming months. Meanwhile, a joint research project with the University of Namibia into ‘teacher attrition, supply and demand’ is being finalised, and will be used in negotiations with the government.
Read NANTU’s new workplace policy here. Please contact efaids@ei-ie.org for more details on drafting workplace policies.