|
3rd
December 2007
TBS workers commended for HIV VCT
Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS)
employees have been commended for their
response for voluntary HIV counselling
and testing (VCT).
HIV/AIDS expert Dr. Godwin Ndeki told
TBS workers in a workshop held at TBS on
the World Aids Day on December 1, 2007
that the big response meant that TBS
workers are now more aware concerning
the virus.
Dr. Ndeki was responding to comments by
TBS Acting Director Mr. Leandri Kinabo
who earlier in his introductory remarks
had said that the turn out for VCT a day
before was remarkable.
The expert also commended TBS for the
process of coming out with a policy on
HIV/AIDS, which he was told was
underway.
The workshop which was organized to
coincide with the World Aids Day was
used by TBS workers, the expert and some
HIV/AIDS victims as a platform to
discuss issues concerning the virus and
the disease. In particular, Dr. Ndeki
gave a lecture on how to safely nurse
and handle HIV/AIDS victims and patients
at home without causing stigma.
“Stigma results in stress, hence
premature death to AIDS patients,”
highlighted Dr. Ndeki, adding that
although care should be taken when
handling an AIDS patient, the general
public should understand that AIDS is
like any other disease and that its
victims should not be estranged.
In his remarks earlier, Acting Director
Mr. Kinabo pointed out that HIV/AIDS
stigma has been on decline in recent
years due to increased sensitization
among the general public.
He also gave some statistics on the
HIV/AIDS scourge worldwide, saying to
date 37 million people have been
infected, 6,800 getting infected
everyday and that 5,700 die of
AIDS-related complications worldwide,
everyday. He said the most affected
region is sub-Saharan Africa.
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