Information TO the people!

One of the most important things you can do as an information warrior (that's me :D) is take information to where the people are. And they are increasingly on the internet! So many publications and information sources are now going online.

In Africa, you will most likely find the masses on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Yookos, Mxit and Tumblr. So HELLO all of you, hope you are finding this blog edu-taining!

Taking information to the people is not new, SAfAIDS have been doing it for YONKS! As far back as the 1990's SAfAIDS realised that most of the people to be reached with HIV information were at work. So materials were designed for people at work.

The material being showcased in this weeks blog is our time tested and much loved Workplace Wellness Toolkit, supported by Hivos and Stop AIDS Now as well as Sweden-Norad and Oxfam.


Studies suggest that on average, an employee with a chronic illness such as Diabetes Mellitus, HIV or TB, can lose 3 - 4 months of work per year, resulting in potential losses of 20–30% of their annual household income.

The Workplace Wellness Toolkit moved our workplace support materials away from purely HIV to include gender, TB, GBV, lifestyle, culture and a much broader focus on health issues that affect the world of work. It has a number of different parts. So far, the package looks like this:

The Workplace Wellness Toolkit basically comprises of five main materials:

• The Know Much More about Advocacy in the Workplace Manual
• Know Much More about HIV Booklet
• Men as Protectors Preventing HIV and GBV Booklet
• Know Much More about Sexual and Reproductive Health 
• The Wellness@Work Magazine

Comprehensive Employee Wellness Programmes help companies:

Reduce absenteeism

Increase productivity

Lower life insurance premiums

Increase staff morale  

Improve corporate image and corporate clout 

The most recent additions have been the second Workplace Wellness Magazine and the Promoting Good Practices Booklet. Both new pieces, like the original toolkit were based on information gathered from the end user group. An online Monkey Survey of readers from the first edition of the Workplace Wellness Magazine informed the content of the second edition (lots of new information on non communicable diseases and stress management - sign of the times for sure!).

The Good Practices Booklet looked closely at some successful projects in Zimbabwe and South Africa and unpacked some of the characteristics of their effectiveness, so everyone can improve their efforts (this included cost effectiveness for those budget conscious readers!).

SAfAIDS is currently updating its Workplace Support Programme and Organisational Outreach Support Packages- I am sure there is one to suit you so do get in touch.