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Source:
www.moh.gov.sg |
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Speech By Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister
of State for Information, Communications and the Arts and Health |
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An Excerpt |
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The Challenge Posed by HIV/ AIDS to
Singapore Businesses |
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In recognition of the threat of HIV/AIDS to
businesses, the World Economic Forum commissioned the Global Review of
the Business Response to HIV/AIDS as part of its 2003/2004 Global
Competitiveness Report. This survey measured the business response to
combating AIDS. |
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A total of 7,789 companies across 103
countries, including Singapore, were asked about their concerns over and
response to the threat of HIV/AIDS. One hundred and twenty firms from
Singapore participated in the survey. Of these Singapore firms, |
- 3 out of 4 companies (73%) estimated
that only less than 1% of their employees are HIV positive; this is a
reasonable estimate.
- 3 out of 4 companies (76%) did not
expect HIV/AIDS to have a serious impact on their company both now and
in the future. This will be true only if businesses put in place
preventive measures. Given the rising trend of HIV infections in
Singapore, businesses in Singapore need to address the prevention and
control of HIV/AIDS in their companies.
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In Singapore, the number of HIV-positive
people has climbed steadily from the first case detected here in 1985 to
2,641 by December 2005. Three out of four (74.77%) who are infected are
actively employed. |
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The increasing numbers are a worrying trend
because they are affecting our people during their productive years. |
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In 2005, out of the 255 new cases reported,
a great majority (87%) comprised the age group of 20 - 59 years old,
with those aged 20 - 49 years accounting for as much as 70% of all new
cases. |
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In view of this, government, businesses and
unions need to work together, and act decisively to stop this alarming
trend. |
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One action we can take is to bring to
the workplace an AIDS education programme that will educate
workers on AIDS prevention and which will fight discrimination
against HIV positive workers at the workplace. |
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Through HIV/AIDS education programmes,
employees can increase their abilities and skills to protect
themselves against HIV/AIDS and develop more positive attitude
towards people living with AIDS. |
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Full Text of Speech |
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Source:
www.moh.gov.sg Press Release 20
Apr 2006 |
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FrontPage Edition: Thu 4 May 2006
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