The role of knowledge of HIV/AIDS amongst employees in a non-governmental organization

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: At least two decades has passed since the HIV/AIDS epidemic took roots. To date the Africa continentstill has the greatest number of infections and deaths. Businesses and economies have been hard hit by thedisease which has a negative effect on the workforce and labour-markets. The disease causes and resultsin an escalating decrease in profits and productivity whereby markets are forced into an economicdecline. The societal wellbeing which is vital for a healthy economy is negatively affected. Businessesowe it to their employees to help deal with the worst health crisis the world has seen since at least 10-40%of the workforce is likely to be infected with HIV. The impact and potential impact of HIV/AIDS differsfrom one company to the next because HIV/AIDS has become a serious threat to all industries.Employers and employees both experience an increasingly difficult time due to the changing environmentin which they must operate as a result of HIV/AIDS. Employers and line functions must deal with thesensitive issue of managing HIVAIDS infected employees and all the concerns surrounding this disease.This research investigates the role of knowledge amongst all the employees within an organization,focusing on those employees based at the national office in Gauteng. It is necessary for the researcher toconduct a survey within the organization to investigate the extent of current existing knowledge of HIVand AIDS amongst the workforce on various levels. The research is necessary so that any workshops,programmes and policies that focus on HIV/AIDS take into consideration the knowledge gaps that exist.Dealing with HIV/AIDS in any organization is surely a difficult road to walk initially but theOrganization itself may come to be regarded as precious in itself, as a source of pride, and in some senseunique when all is said and done i.e. when all members are educated, informed and aware of HIV/AIDS(Wikipedia. 2009, 1).

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University