Stop Work and Talk about AIDS - Union
November 27, 2008
IOL HIV-AIDS
Johannesburg - The Congress of South African Trade Unions has called for a nationwide 30-minute work stoppage, to talk about HIV on World Aids Day next Monday.
Johannesburg - The Congress of South African Trade Unions has called for a nationwide 30-minute work stoppage, to talk about HIV on World Aids Day next Monday.
Speaking on Thursday, after the union body's Central Executive Committee meeting, it said the stoppage should focus on prevention, distribution of pamphlets, training of shop stewards to be counsellors, and the distribution of condoms and femidoms.
The stoppage would begin with a minute's silence, to remember people who had died of the disease.
The union said that at least 70 percent of the case load in the public health system was taken up by HIV and Aids cases, crowding out capacity to treat other conditions.
The union said that at least 70 percent of the case load in the public health system was taken up by HIV and Aids cases, crowding out capacity to treat other conditions.
"The public health system facing this Aids tsunami is dysfunctional," it said.
The work stoppage has been supported by the Treatment Action Campaign, Lovelife, The South African National Aids Council, businesses and civil society. – Sapa