Jetwing, John Keells collaborate on AIDS awareness program
Two of Sri Lanka's large corporates with business in the leisure
sector set aside competition and joined hands recently to address a
national cause to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS under the Lanka
Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS (LBCH).
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The unique collaboration took place between Jetwing Sri Lanka one of
the largest hotel operators in the island and John Keells Holdings, Sri
Lanka's largest listed conglomerate of which the leisure arm is one of
its biggest businesses. Both corporates are members of the LBCH and are
committed to raising awareness of HIV and AIDS among its staff at all
levels. An inaugural ceremony of “Passing the Pillow” held from 08th -
09th May, at the Jetwing Lagoon saw the symbolic bright red cushion
inscribed with the message “Pass on Awareness, not HIV” being handed
over to Hiran Cooray, Chairman Jetwing Sri Lanka by Dr. Kishu Gomes,
Country Chairman Chevron Sri Lanka and Chairman of LBCH, kick-starting a
series of education and training programmes to be held at Jetwing
properties island wide conducted by in-house voluntary trainers from JKH.
The program is slated to cover eight Jetwing Hotels over the four weeks.
Speaking at the event, Hiran Cooray said, “What we start here today
will not be in this room only; first and foremost we will spread
awareness amongst our associates, and they in turn will share their
knowledge with others. If there is the possibility of eradicating this
menace, then let us do it anyway we can through the communities in which
we are present”.
Dr. Kishu Gomes, said “This unique collaboration between the two
companies goes to show the importance of the cause and the need for such
partnerships for the sustainability of the society. The biggest asset we
have as a nation are the 8 million people in the workforce, and we as
business leaders should recognize the AIDS issue and own it for a
solution through early mitigation action.”
LBCH's HIV and AIDS awareness campaign launched earlier this year in
an effort to highlight the importance of awareness of the disease among
the over 60 LBCH member corporates, which include leading banks and
conglomerates in the island, signifying a challenge for organizations to
take forward the AIDS awareness programme. Its goal is to leverage the
business community to make a committed response to mitigate the threat
of HIV and AIDS in the workplace and community.
LBCH provides a platform from which policies and awareness programmes
can be coordinated and executed efficiently by pooling resources and
knowledge that exist within the business community. LBCH works with its
members to ensure that each of the organisations has an HIV and AIDS
Workplace Policy in place, and provides on-going customised awareness
programmes. Professional trainers conduct these programmes at no cost to
member organisations.
According to statistics, nine out of 10 people living with HIV and
AIDS globally are in the work force, which if not addressed, will
threaten workplace productivity. As the number of persons living with
HIV reported in Sri Lanka is on the rise, with approximately two new HIV
cases reported every week, there is a need to recognize the magnitude of
the issue and make a concerted effort on spreading awareness to mitigate
the threat.
The creative concept for LBCH’s new awareness campaign was devised by
the leading advertising & PR agency Bates Strategic Alliance which
supports LBCH in its publicity. The pillows were sposnsored by
International Labor Oraganization (ILO). |
