John Kennedy Jardenil
Jose Narciso Melchor C. Sescon, MD FPOGS
Remedios AIDS Foundation

THE WORKPLACE EXPANDED PEER EDUCATION APPROACH
ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

ISSUES:

• The workplace is not an exemption in the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It comprises the most economically productive age group and has proved to be the hardest hit age group worldwide.
• In the Philippines, several workplace interventions have been done by RAF to address this concern.
• The need to continuously provide information and referral services in the workplace is a must in preparation for a rise in HIV/AIDS in the country

METHODOLOGY:

• RAF has targeted the workplace for the past four years through peer educators workshop on HIV/AIDS/STI and other reproductive health issues.
• Initially, this sector has proved to be difficult for RAF to mobilize because they don't see HIV/AIDS as a business issue.
• However, with the passage of Republic Act 8504 (AIDS Law), the workplace has started to rethink of their position and entertain the matter with utmost importance.

RESULTS:

• RAF has successfully trained 131 peer educators from 51 different small and medium enterprise and companies providing information services at the workplace.
• RAF has mainstreamed HIV/AIDS with existing maternal and child health issues along with other reproductive health concerns.
• A total of 200,000 workers have been reached to receive various reproductive health services in the workplace.
• Some companies have come up with their own HIV/AIDS policies integrated with the corporate mandate (Philacor, Levi Strauss Philippines, Hotel Sofitel, Shell Phil)
• Continuous monitoring of activities have been conducted to ensure the needs of its peer educators for their campaigns.
• Quarterly development workshops are provided by RAF among peer educators on Reproductive Health to further improve their capabilities and skills for service delivery in the workplace.

CONCLUSION:

• Intervention is best done when the magnitude of the disease is low and slow.
• It is considered cost effective, doable and replicable.
• This strategy has proved to be a success in the workplace in coming up with systems and referral mechanisms, should a rise of HIV/AIDS cases occurs.