JKH launches second phase of HIV/AIDS awareness campaign

John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation's HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign has entered its second phase, with the objective of raising awareness among vulnerable groups and external communities around the business locations of the John Keells Group.
The formal launch ceremony of the second phase took place in Hikkaduwa last month and was attended by many dignitaries of the area, including the Divisional Secretary, Deputy Mayor and other local government officials, religious leaders, the medical officer-NSACP, STD Clinic of the Mahamodera Teaching Hospital in Galle, tourism officials, school principals and teachers, and representatives of the police. Dr. Indira Hettiarachchi and Dr. Dayanath Ranatunga of the ILO/USDOL HIV/AIDS Workplace Education Programme conducted an awareness programme for the benefit of the invitees.

The first community-based awareness session under the second phase took place later on the same day, with 20 tourist guides, three-wheeler drivers and tourist van drivers participating in an interactive workshop. The programmes were organized by John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation in collaboration with the International Labour Organization / US Department of Labour HIV/AIDS Workplace Education Programme. The two organizations have entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation for the development and implementation of the HIV/AIDS workplace program in and around the Resort and City Hotels of the John Keells Group during the second phase.

As part of this program, each hotel will have its own set of peer educators on HIV/AIDS.
The John Keells HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign spanning three years was launched in 2005 - the first such campaign launched by a corporate in Sri Lanka. Having identified the potential impact that HIV/AIDS can have on Sri Lanka, the Foundation’s goal is to create awareness of HIV and AIDS, how the virus spreads, how it could be prevented and the care and support needed by the infected and the affected. To date, about 3000 employees of the JKH group have benefited from the Staff Awareness Campaign, which will also continue in parallel to the second phase activities. In the third phase, the campaign will cover the national platform with island-wide awareness programs for the benefit of the general public.

Tourist guides and tourist drivers from Hikkaduwa participate in an interactive workshop on HIV AIDS