HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy at the Ministry of Education Headquarters in Malawi
| Published date | 01 September 2007 |
| DOI | 10.1177/014473940702700202 |
| Author | Daniel B J Matimba,Caryn E Cook |
| Date | 01 September 2007 |
Teaching Public Administration, Autumn 2007,
Vo1.27,
No.2, pp.14-24
HIV/AIDS
WORKPLACE
POLICY AT THE MINISTRY OF
EDUCATION HEADQUARTERS IN
MALAWI
DANIEL BJMATIMBA
(Ministry
of
Education, Malawi)
and
CARYNECOOK
(University
of
Wales, Newport)
HIVIAIDS is indiscriminate: it does not think about rank or status, it cannot be
inoculated against and it affects policy makers and implementers alike. It is not
just someone else's problem; it is everyone's. The situation is considered to be
so grave that the World Bank has indicated that
'in
parts
of
Africa,
if
effective
action is not taken to combat the spread
of
the epidemic, HIVIAIDS could
result in economic collapse' (Bell et ai, 2003).
Malawi is one
of
the Sub-Saharan countries hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS
epidemic. The first case
of
the illness was diagnosed in 1985 and the country's
attempts to deal with the epidemic began in 1986 (Malawi Government, 2002).
The response by governmental and non-governmental organisations
demonstrated an acceptance
of
the existence
of
the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a
problem affecting society. Initially, the approach taken was intended to prevent
the further spread
of
the infection. Later, the focus was broadened to include
support and impact mitigation (Barnett & Whiteside, 2002). The first extensive
review and stakeholder consultation on the epidemic was undertaken alongside
the National Population Census
of
1998 under the coordination
of
the National
AIDS Commission (NAC), the umbrella organisation for all HIV/AIDS issues
in Malawi.
Health officials estimate that about
one
million people in Malawi are
living with HIV and that about 640,000 people have died from AIDS-related
causes since 1985 (Global Health Reporting, 2008). However, although
HIV/AIDS policies are being implemented in many areas
of
the world the
government
of
Malawi has recognised that the problem potentially affects the
very fabric
of
government in addition to the general population
of
the country.
This paper offers an evaluation
of
the policy being implemented within the
heart
of
government - the Ministry
of
Education.
Never before in the country has a workplace policy needed to face and
address an issue such as this, which demands not only confronting an
organisation's culture but also the national culture. The stakes for getting it
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