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This World AIDS Day, the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has turned its focus towards developing an integrated workplace strategy on how to combat HIV and TB simultaneously through a coordinated and targeted approach. The Federation’s Equity Forum and Occupational Health and Safety Forum will come together to investigate effective measures that can be adopted in the workplace to reduce the effects of both epidemics on the South African workforce. FEDUSA also calls on the South African government to lead all the sectors in deliberate actions outlined in the National Strategic Plan for 2012 -2016, which adopts a single set of targets for both HIV and TB.
 
Martle Keyter, FEDUSA Vice President Gender says, “Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death for people living with HIV in South Africa, which highlights the critical need for improving the national and sectoral responses to the disease. This year the World Health Organisation released their updated policy on collaborative TB and HIV activities which must be used not only as a guideline for national policies, but is a useful tool for the Federation and our affiliated unions in the revision of our HIV and TB Workplace Policy”.
 
South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV and AIDS, with this being currently estimated to be about 5.4 million. This accounts for 25% of the HIV disease burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 1% of South Africans (482,000) contract Tuberculosis (TB) annually, thereby making the country one of the high burden TB countries globally. “The concomitant TB and HIV infections and drug-resistant forms of TB are increasing, and a weak integration of HIV, AIDS and TB health services serves to undermine and weaken the achievement of programme outputs” continues Keyter.
 
The risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) is estimated to be between 20-37 times greater in people living with HIV than among those without HIV infection and in 2010, there were 8.8 million new cases of TB, of which 1.1 million were among people living with HIV. Dennis George, FEDUSA General Secretary states, “Until recently, the South African Government's response to these diseases has been marked by denial, lack of political will, and poor implementation of policies and programmes, and it is of utmost concern to the Federation that these obstacles be eliminated for the sake of the lives of many South Africans who are living with either or both of these diseases”.
 
FEDUSA commences its policy and programme revision process on 11 December 2012, where Labour’s plans for the NSP will be deliberated and integrated into the HIV and TB programme priorities for 2013. FEDUSA will work closely with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in the development and implementation of their revised policy and a relevant and practicable workplace programme that can be integrated across the sectors represented by our affiliated unions.
 
Keyter says, “Government cannot eradicate HIV or TB infections by themselves. It is our duty as representatives of the workers of this country to ensure that all workplaces are equipped to deal effectively and safely with individuals who find themselves living with either of the infections. All social partners must be committed to undertaking their responsibilities with commitment and great urgency, for the lives of our fellow South Africans”.