Telkom's Aids work rewarded

By Staff Writer for Telkom
Johannesburg, 11 Jun 2008

Fixed-line operator Telkom's workplace HIV/Aids education and testing programme has been recognised internationally.

The voluntary counselling, testing and treatment programme (VCTT) has already seen more than 21 000, out of just over 31 000 employees, undergo voluntary testing.

This led to the New York-based Global Business Coalition (GBC) awarding it a business excellence award.

John Tedstrom, executive director of the GBC on HIV/Aids, TB and malaria, said Telkom had shown the world how companies can deliver remarkable improvements in the health and well-being of their workforce through comprehensive testing and counselling programmes.

Charlotte Mokoena, chief of human resources at Telkom, says the VCTT is provided at no cost to employees at both on- and off-site facilities, and is a major component of Telkom's Thuso Employee Workplace Wellness Programme. Thuso also provides free anti-retroviral treatment to those who test HIV-positive, as well as general health service for all employees.

Apart from the thousands of employees that have been tested to date, she says, "65% of spouses and partners of Telkom employees have also taken the test and know their status. Of the employees who tested positive, 81% take part in the Chronic Disease Management Programme."