The Board and Management of NACHU Continuously Acknowledge the Seriousness of the HIV/AIDS

The Board and Management of NACHU Continuously Acknowledge the Seriousness of the HIV/AIDS

Table of contents

  • BACKGROUND
  • OBJECTIVES
  • SCOPE
  • GUIDING PRINCIPLES
  • APPROACH
  • POLICY REVIEW

1.INTRODUCTION

NACHU is the national cooperative organization for primary housing cooperatives in Kenya. It was registered as a National cooperative union under the Cooperative Societies Act (Cap 490) of the laws of Kenya in 1979.

NACHU is an acronym that stands for National Cooperative Housing Union. It has a countrywide membership of over 240 primary housing cooperatives affiliated to it. The primary housing cooperatives serve individual members numbering over 200 000 majority of whom comprise women and children from the low-income communities.

NACHU fulfils its mandate through various services to the membership, including

  • Community mobilization, education and training
  • Lobbying and advocacy
  • Technical services related to housing development
  • Financial services including loans for housing and small-scale businesses.

VISION

To maintain a leading role in facilitating access to decent andaffordable shelter through provision oftechnical assistance inhousing development.

MISSION

To contribute to improved shelter and quality of life on a sustainable basis, especially, for the low-income communities

HIV/AIDS has negatively impacted the ability of NACHU to effectively carry out its mandate. NACHU has lost many members and even employees to the disease while many others are to too sick to benefit from NACHU programmes or are caught up in the care of ailing relatives. NACHU recognizes that it cannot achieve its mission –“To contribute to improved shelter and quality of life on a sustainable basis, especially, for the low income communities” – unless it tackles the threat posed by HIV/AIDS

2.BACKGROUND

Kenya has one of the highest HIV prevalence levels in the world. It is estimated that about 10% of Kenyan adults are HIV infected. HIV prevalence in urban areas is approximately double that in rural areas. Women are also disproportionately harder hit and constitute about 60% of all people living with HIV/AIDS. It is also estimated that there are more than one million AIDS orphans in the country. Access to effective HIV/AIDS treatment is extremely low. Only about 3% of the people who need ARVs access them. As a result of this situation AIDS death rates in the country are extremely high.

HIV/AIDS affects communities and organisations by:

  • Causing widespread illness and death thus leading to productivity erosion
  • Increased medical /insurance costs
  • Diversion of resources from productive sectors to healthcare
  • Loss of societal cohesion and morale
  • Altered demographics

It has been shown that agricultural output reduces dramatically in families who have lost at least one of the parents to AIDS. Although the dynamics are not fully understood, there exists strong links between HIV/AIDS and poverty. We therefore cannot fight one without addressing the other.

3.OBJECTIVES

The NACHU HIV/AIDS policy has the following objectives:

  • Acknowledge the threat HIV/AIDS poses to our organisation and the importance of a proactive, integrated and sustained response to this disease so as to mitigate against the threat.
  • Provide guidance on HIV/AIDS programmes and ensure compliance with local and international guidelines and laws.

4.SCOPE

This policy addresses HIV/AIDS programme needs for all NACHU operations in Kenya. Specifically it covers the following:

  • Members of cooperatives
  • Staff
  • Board of directors
  • Local communities
  • Partners and donors

5.GUIDING PRINCIPLES

NACHU’s HIV/AIDS programmes will be guided by the following principles:

  • RECOGNITION OF HIV/AIDS AS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE

We recognize that HIV/AIDS is an important issue that affects our members, employees and the communities in which we operate. We also acknowledge that NACHU has an important role to play in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

  • NON-DISCRIMINATION

In-line with local and international guidelines no member of our housing cooperatives or employee will be in any way discriminated on the basis of their known or assumed HIV status

  • CONFIDENTIALITY

Information regarding the HIV status of members, employees or their relatives will not be divulged to a third party without the written permission of the infected person.

  • HIV/AIDS SCREENING

No person will be screened for HIV/AIDS for purposes of employment, promotion, training or so as to access NACHU loans.

  • GENDER DIMENSIONS

NACHU recognizes the fact that more women than men are infected with HIV and that in general the impact of HIV/AIDS is much greater on women. Women also constitute the majority of NACHU members. NACHU is committed to ensuring that our HIV/AIDS programmes fully address these gender disparities and reduce the vulnerability of women to the disease and its impact.

  • CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT

HIV infected employees will not be terminated from employment on the basis of HIV status. If necessary, HIV infected staff who are unwell will be allocated duties appropriate to their medical condition. Termination of any HIV infected individual, who is not medically fit, will be in-line with the policy on life threatening sickness.

  • HIV/AIDS EDUCATION

All members of NACHU, Board of Directors, employees, their immediate family members and the NACHU affiliates will be provided with effective HIV/AIDS education. The objective of such training will include the creation of greater HIV/AIDS awareness and openness, promotion of safe sex practices and reduction of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination.

  • MAINSTREAMING

HIV/AIDS programmes will be fully integrated with all NACHU policies, strategies and programmes. This will ensure greater effectiveness and sustainability and leverage NACHU’s strengths in support of HIV/AIDS programmes. HIV/AIDS programmes will be one of the objectives for the management and board. The HIV/AIDS programme status and review will be on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting.

  • INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION

In formulating and implementing HIV/AIDS programmes, the input of key stakeholders including members, employees, partners and donors will be sought.

  • VCT

Recognising the enormous benefits of people knowing their HIV status, NACHU will promote voluntary counseling and testing for its members, staff, employees and local communities.

  • CARE AND SUPPORT

In line with our medical scheme, we shall provide HIV infected employees and their immediate families with appropriate treatment and care. In addition NACHU, through networking closely with the government, NGOs and donors will endeavor to come up with the most effective strategies with view to increasing access to life saving medicines for HIV infected members of the society.

6.APPROACH

NACHU will adopt the following approach in implementing its HIV/AIDS programme:

  • VISIBLE LEADERSHIP

The NACHU management board and senior management will lead by example. They will take every available opportunity to emphasise the importance of the programme to the organisation.

  • PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION

To ensure programme effectiveness, NACHU will collaborate with relevant partners including:

  • Government ministries and corporations
  • Development partners
  • UN agencies
  • NGOs and CBOs
  • Private sector organisations
  • NACC
  • Faith Based organisations
  • Hospitals
  • PLWA organisations
  • MONITORING AND EVALUATION

NACHU will rigorously monitor and evaluate its HIV/AIDS programmes against the set targets and indicators. Where needed NACHU will carry out well-designed surveys. NACHU will also periodically evaluate the impact of HIV/AIDS on its operations, members and employees. All HIV/AIDS activities will be documented and important findings shared with key stakeholders.

  • COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS.

NACHU will support community-based initiatives in its target communities in partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations.

  • PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS (PLWAs)

NACHU will ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS are fully involved and integrated in the HIV/AIDS programmes.

7.POLICY REVIEW

This HIV/AIDS policy will be reviewed every 2 years or earlier if there are significant new developments.

Signed______NATIONAL BOARD CHAIRMAN

Date______

Signed______GENERAL MANAGER

Date______

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