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How to live with HIV-Aids

In 2006 the post office began to encourage employees to undergo testing and counselling for HIV and Aids.

In 2006 the post office began to encourage employees to undergo testing and counselling for HIV and Aids.

Leading a healthy life if you are HIV positive requires changes to your lifestyle.

And how will you know to change it if you don't know your status?

"With this campaign,we want to promote HIV and Aids awareness and healthy living," says Matthews Phale of Human Resources.

"If the company knows how many employees live with HIV, we can budget and plan for the support interventions they need."

To date, 62 percent of employees have undergone testing and know their status.

"The testing is done by an outside company," says Phale. "Though the company tells us the percentage of employees who are HIV positive, they do not give us any names. That part of the information is confidential."

It is possible to live a long, healthy and productive life if you are HIV positive. In medical circles, HIV is regarded as a more manageable condition than diabetes.

Despite this, the most important thing you need when you discover that you are HIV positive, is support. That is why Human Resources crafted the Ngatana groups. Ngatana is a Setswana word that symbolises collectivism.

These support groups are led, directed and limited to employees living openly with HIV and Aids.

All support group meetings and proceedings are treated with utmost privacy and confidentiality.

At the Ngatana support groups, employees can share experiences, learn from one another and support one another. Speaking with people in the same position as they are gives them the chance to encourage and motivate one another.

The Ngatana groups also give feedback to management which shapes the policy and procedures of HIV and Aids management in the company and they help to create a discrimination-free environment.

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