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15 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 49/2004
On World AIDS Day 2004—tomorrow 1 December—the 20-million-member ICEM reiterates its call for nations, global institutions and civil society groups to establish a dedicated entity in which to channel the vast outpouring of resources aimed at the fight against HIV/AIDS.
"There are many genuine efforts to control and reverse the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. “What is lacking is an effective organization or body that can take the responsibility of coordinating these efforts. Until such a mechanism is in place, responses from the international community—however welcome—will fall short of achieving maximum effect.”
The ICEM, the leading Global Union Federation (GUF) of the energy, mining and mineral extraction industries, covers work sectors of the developing world hardest hit by the virus. The Brussels-based trade union federation recognizes the devastating impact HIV/AIDS has on the world of work, and is moving forward with its own plan of attack.
In March 2004, ICEM issued a call to the major multinationals in the mining and energy sectors to join with the GUF to build fully-equipped medical clinics in remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa to provide HIV/AIDS relief. The clinics will provide drug treatments from trained medical staff and will be open to workers and family members suffering from HIV/AIDS, as well as others within the local communities inflicted by the virus.
With assistance from ICEM trade union affiliates in Africa, national trade union coordinators in 17 sub-Saharan African countries are in place and have begun identifying employers, specific areas and the necessary infrastructure needed for the project. The ICEM has received funding to employ an African Regional HIV/AIDS Project Coordinator, and a person in Brussels who will internationalize the GUF’s efforts on the HIV/AIDS fight.
“ICEM affiliates in Africa and elsewhere do have formal agreements with global mining companies for pro-active education and awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS that have proven effective,” said Higgs. “But there is a tremendous medical infrastructure deficit in Africa that is inhibiting the ability to provide effective treatments. These clinics will help alleviate that and are the next logical progression to the valuable education and awareness programmes now in place.”
The ICEM is strategically positioned for such a direct role in the HIV/AIDS fight because it represents not only workers of extractive industries disproportionately stricken with the virus, but also chemical workers of the pharmaceutical industry at the major drug-producing companies of the world. The ICEM continues to be engaged in complex dialogue with these pharmaceutical companies on a new initiative to provide affordable drugs to those living with the HIV/AIDS virus in the UN’s list of least developed countries.
"There are many genuine efforts to control and reverse the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. “What is lacking is an effective organization or body that can take the responsibility of coordinating these efforts. Until such a mechanism is in place, responses from the international community—however welcome—will fall short of achieving maximum effect.”
The ICEM, the leading Global Union Federation (GUF) of the energy, mining and mineral extraction industries, covers work sectors of the developing world hardest hit by the virus. The Brussels-based trade union federation recognizes the devastating impact HIV/AIDS has on the world of work, and is moving forward with its own plan of attack.
In March 2004, ICEM issued a call to the major multinationals in the mining and energy sectors to join with the GUF to build fully-equipped medical clinics in remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa to provide HIV/AIDS relief. The clinics will provide drug treatments from trained medical staff and will be open to workers and family members suffering from HIV/AIDS, as well as others within the local communities inflicted by the virus.
With assistance from ICEM trade union affiliates in Africa, national trade union coordinators in 17 sub-Saharan African countries are in place and have begun identifying employers, specific areas and the necessary infrastructure needed for the project. The ICEM has received funding to employ an African Regional HIV/AIDS Project Coordinator, and a person in Brussels who will internationalize the GUF’s efforts on the HIV/AIDS fight.
“ICEM affiliates in Africa and elsewhere do have formal agreements with global mining companies for pro-active education and awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS that have proven effective,” said Higgs. “But there is a tremendous medical infrastructure deficit in Africa that is inhibiting the ability to provide effective treatments. These clinics will help alleviate that and are the next logical progression to the valuable education and awareness programmes now in place.”
The ICEM is strategically positioned for such a direct role in the HIV/AIDS fight because it represents not only workers of extractive industries disproportionately stricken with the virus, but also chemical workers of the pharmaceutical industry at the major drug-producing companies of the world. The ICEM continues to be engaged in complex dialogue with these pharmaceutical companies on a new initiative to provide affordable drugs to those living with the HIV/AIDS virus in the UN’s list of least developed countries.