BHA Press Release: HIV/AIDS in Bali - Bali Hotels Association and
Partners on the Offensive
Bali Hotels Association (BHA)together with the German International
Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association
[Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia] (PKBI) engaged in a partnership
which aims at raising public awareness and educating the employees of Bali’s
Hotels Association on HIV/AIDS.
In a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach – kick-started with the training
of future resource persons from 20.11.2012 to 23.11.2012 - the partnership aims
at providing adequate knowledge about the spread of HIV/AIDS, modes of
infection, rights and social behavior as well as counseling with a focus on
the work environment.
All hotels sending participants committed themselves to conduct
additional awareness raising and information events for their own staff,
utilizing their newly trained resource persons. It is also envisaged that the
knowledge gained through the series of trainings in the participating hotels
will be disseminated further to the communities in Bali, in particular the
young people.
Until April 2013 GIZ, BHA and PKBI work together to educate thousands of
hospitality and tourism workers. While BHA provides an audience (future
replicators), infrastructure and organizational assistance, GIZ and PKBI
contribute with trainers, training materials, and their expertise. The
trainings were carried out through PKBI - on behalf of GIZ – who is also in
charge for providing necessary coaching for the newly trained resources persons
in conducting their own information events. Moreover, a joint monitoring by the
three parties will be conducted in order to measure the achievements and
benefits of this HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns.
Focusing on facts and knowledge and the dedication to change of
behavior, the ToTs have been conducted in a lively and sometimes even funny
atmosphere. The initiative caught on – its content is already spreading beyond
the direct hotel environment. Participants reported follow up discussions
within their families, friends and even at their hair dressers.
Within the framework of this initiative, BHA is also committed to
implement a HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy at the beginning of 2013 with the aim,
among others, to ensure that HIV/AIDS positive individuals working at BHA
hotels will not be discriminated against.
After the successful cooperation in Bali, GIZ plans to start a similar
initiative in Lombok, making use of the valuable experience gathered during its
collaboration with BHA.
With 250 million inhabitants, the Republic of Indonesia is the fourth
most populated country in the world and the country with the fastest growing
HIV epidemic in Asia with an estimate of over 400.000 people living with
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Bali is one of the provinces with a rapid increase in HIV
prevalence. Recently it is reported that an estimated one percent of pregnant
women in Bali are infected with HIV/AIDS. According to the AIDS Commission
[Komisi Penanggulangan AIDS] (KPA) in Denpasar, the number of people living
with HIV/AIDS in Bali has increased by an alarmingly 24% during 2011 to 5.222
people, compared to 4.210 people in 2010.
As Bali is aiming to maintain its status as the number one tourist
destination in Indonesia, the increase in HIV prevalence may also hamper the
sustainability of tourism in Bali. HIV/AIDS positive individuals are still
often stigmatised, discriminated and misinformed. Once infected, many do not
seek adequate treatment due to fear of exposure and job loss. Therefore measures
to stem the spread of HIV and to protect people from discrimination at home and
at the workplace must be taken, to which this cooperation shall contribute.
For further information please contact:
Bali Hotels Association
(BHA)
Alexander Kesper – BHA Security and Safety Executive
Source :
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