HIV/AIDS Awareness for WVSUMC Workers

As a strategy for ending the stigma of HIV/AIDS in West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC), a total of 73-personnel consisting of doctors, nurses, housekeeping, laboratory technicians, among others, were oriented on the fundamentals of the silent killer specifically in the workplace.

Melveen Melocoton, regional representative of OSHC in Region 6, discussed the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the workers and their families, enterprises, and the country. During the activity, he conducted a workshop where attendees were tasked to write down the common stigma which hinders them in opening conversations on HIV/AIDS awareness. As a result, most workers still consider the topic as a taboo and awkward.

"HIV & AIDS are workplace issues. The impact is felt by both workers & employers together with their families," said Melveen Melocoton. Workplace intervention can help limit the spread & mitigate the impact of HIV & AIDS, he added.

The workplace allows development of policies & strategies, facilitates promotion of health messages, facilitates referral of workers for care & support, and provides an opportunity for an effective partnership among the private and public sectors. With a well-developed policy on HIV prevention, it will result to minimized workplace disruption & lost productivity; Reduced health care costs by preventing new infections; Company demonstration of concern for the welfare of workers & families; Assurance that people living with HIV (PLWH) receive appropriate counseling, medical, & social support.

HIV/AIDS remains to be a silent killer with no cure. Thus, prevention is the best strategy ending the spread of the virus. And, the OSHC remains to be a valuable partner in the information dissemination on HIV/AIDS awareness. Especially in assisting both private and public sectors in the development and strengthening of policies and programs on HIV prevention.

OSH for sugar regulatory officers in Bacolod

A total of 27 personnel from the Sugar Regulatory Administration - Visayas had a 1-day safety and health awareness course conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), in partnership with the Safety Organization of Negros Occidental, Inc. (SONO, Inc.), held at the SRA Training Center, Araneta St., Singcang, Bacolod City

Engr. Dinah P. Acoyong, a DOLE-Accredited OSH Practitioner and SONO representative, was tapped by the OSHC to discuss the topics on industrial hygiene, control measures, work environment measurement, and PPE; principles and application. The topics were selected by the SRA as indicated in their request letter to the OSHC.

The OSHC is the national authority for research and training on matters pertaining to safety and health at work. It provides the expertise and intervention mechanism to improve workplace conditions in the Philippines.

OSHC orients Lambunao workers on safety and health

The Occupational Safety and Health Center - Regional Extension Unit No. 6 (OSHC-REU6) conducted a safety and health orientation to the workers under the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office (MEEDO) consisting of (14) Revenue Generating Unit (RGU) of the Municipality of Lambunao, Iloilo.

The activity was graced by the presence of Mayor Jason Gonzales who welcomed the attendees and inspired them by stating the many accomplishments gained by the municipality through the efforts of all its constituents.

During the activity, the workers present were assigned to the slaughterhouses, traffic enforcement, market office, garments, and prints, among others. The RGU manpower executes both physical and mental tasks daily to guarantee effective services to their clients. Thus, the office of the MEEDO saw that in each RGU, the personnel were in need to have a background in occupational safety and health (OSH) precautions which they can apply in their workplaces.

Melveen Melocoton, the OSHC regional representative, discussed the basic OSH principles, common hazards in the workplaces, and its preventive measures in order to assure a safe and healthy working environment for everyone. Also, a workshop was conducted wherein the attendees were instructed to write down and explain the unsafe acts and conditions currently present in their respective workplaces.

OSHC REU6 continues to extend its reach in Western Visayas to enhance and strengthen OSH policies and programs, delivery of quality OSH services, client-focused responses, management of resources, linkages and information dissemination.