New magazine takes on HIV/Aids in transport

12 March 2007. For immediate release

New magazine takes on HIV/Aids in transport

Global union federation the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today unveiled Agenda, a free new magazine in five languages for those working in transport or the field of HIV/Aids worldwide. Designed to pool and disseminate information and encourage best practice, the annual publication is the latest weapon in the ITF’s anti-Aids campaign, which was launched on World Aids Day 2006 and promotes HIV prevention, campaigns for counselling and testing, for anti-retrovirals and against prejudice.

Dutch union FNV Mondiaal has funded production of the the magazine for three years. The ITF will be distributing it to transport unions, global union federations and relevant stakeholders such as the ILO, World Bank and other institutions and NGOs - and also welcomes requests from other interested organisations. Agenda can also be read and downloaded at www.itfglobal.org/HIV-Aids/agenda1.cfm

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft commented: “The ITF has been confronting Aids since the 1980s. The spread of the epidemic has demanded an escalating response. Everything we have learned has underlined the importance of collecting and spreading information and Agenda is the latest tool in
our campaign to do that.”

Doctor Syed Asif Altaf, ITF Global HIV/Aids Project Coordinator, added: “A huge amount of expertise on challenging the virus has been built up by all those fighting the virus, both inside and outside the transport area. We hope that Agenda will provide a forum where everyone can share and swap their experiences for the good of all.”

The contents of the first issue are:

In Brief
Global campaign takes off • Tackling truckers’ problems • Aviation workers still at risk • Disease still peaking after 25 years

We can change attitudes
Global Unions campaigner Alan Leather explains how

In Brief: other sectors
Fashion awareness blitz • Comprehensive protection for mineworkers •Advocating for members at home and away • Organising sex workers in Cambodia • Best practice award for youth project • First big steps in prevention and support

Everything counts
Getting trade union responses off the ground

Burden of risk
Unsafe habits have proved hard to break around the ports of Ghana

Wake up call
Urgent action is needed in Eastern Europe

Opening doors to care and treatment
How union involvement can help

Inside views
Perspectives from around the sector

In good company?
Airline responses to the pandemic have been mixed

Message not received
Why seafarers need better access to advice

Triangle of Risk
Far reaching implications of sexual behaviour in one harbour town

Fruits of partnership
A truckers' drop in centre scheme shows the potential for working with outside organisations

Safe sex demands equality
Are gender inequalities getting in the way of the safe sex message?

Highway of Hope
Documentary maker David Browne reflects on his time filming in East Africa

Listen and Learn
A pioneering audio documentary is getting vital information across to Swedish truckers

Behaviour Change: Step by Step
How to ensure HIV education has an effect

Overcoming Stigma
Transport workers in Asia need to start talking

About Agenda
Editorial information, how to order, web links

ENDS

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