SWABCHA has partnered with the National Emergency Response Committee on HIV- AIDS (NERCHA) to mitigate the HIV pandemic in the private sector. SWABCHA organized a World AIDS Day Commemoration event for the workplace this year with support from the Regional Multi-Sectoral HIV-AIDS Coordinating Committee (REMSHACC).
On this event, companies were invited to bring their peer educators and a representative from management (including HIV-AIDS Focal person) to an open day to
• Commemorate the World AIDS Day
• Experiences and lesson sharing from each other
• Appreciate the work that has been done so far in the workplace programs
• Meet and get to know each other
The event was a success about 50 peer educators from the following companies mainly in the Hhohho region and also the Lubombo participated during the Hhohho event held @the Swaziland Water Services Corporation Boardroom at Ezulwini and the following companies attended;
o Central Bank
o Standard Bank
o Ned bank
o The Exams Council
o Fincorp
o Tambankulu Estates
o SWSC
o S.P.T.C
Morning session
The Nedbank focal person, Nomsa Sibandze chaired the session. SWSC gave welcome remarks.
SWABCHA together with companies’ focal persons presented glass trophies to all peer educators in appreciation of their hardwork in the response to HIV-AIDS. The peer educators made the following comments;
1. Appreciated the opportunity to meet and a forum to share experiences
2. Acknowledged their management for the support they offer to the wellness programs.
3. Expressed gratitude to Swaziland Business Coalition HIV and AIDS for providing peer educators training, mobile wellness unit and assistance to develop wellness programs and policies.
Afternoon Session
In the afternoon there was an open forum to allow peer educators to openly discuss and share experiences in the work they do. The following issues were discussed;
o Sex workers-they were concerned about the impact of interventions targeting sex workers. They also noted the challenges with professionals who do not call themselves sex workers and are not paid for sex but behave in the same manner. The question raised was why do people leave their long term partners to buy sex from sex workers?
o Poor communication in couples especially on sex issues which resulted in sexual dissatisfaction. The participants noted that the dissatisfaction leads to multiple concurrent partners and mainly casual sex with sex workers.
o Lack of premarital and childhood sex education which could empower and enable couples and children on enhancing their sexual life as necessary. The question raised here was, how can our culture and religion open up to educate couples young people to embrace their sexuality so that it is not taboo to discuss sex in relationships
The following are recommendations that were made;
o Peer educators should accept and believe in themselves, have that self confidence so that they impart these attributes to their peers.
o They encouraged each other to lead their programs by example. To take the lessons at a personal level before trying to convince the next person.
o To adhere to values, morals, that will promote healthy behaviors.
o Utilize a comprehensive approach when conducting sessions and not just focus on HIV-AIDS, so that the needs of the peers are attended to holistically thus enhancing the wellness programs.
o Peer educators were urged to assist their peers towards attaining their future dreams and goals.
o Lobby Parliamentarians to formulate legislation that will help rebuild the social moral fabric by addressing sex workers issues.
o SWABCHA to regularly organize such forums with peer educators from other regions for experience and lesson sharing as this will enhance the wellness programs at their workplaces.
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