SABCOHA has identified the need to appoint a full-time co-ordinator, but on an initial six month fixed term contract in the Port Elizabeth area.

Business is devising a comprehensive strategy to help implement the National Strategic Plan (NSP 2007 - 2011). This will be tabled at the next plenary meeting of South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) in early 2008.

With the New Year well on its way, SABCOHA CEO Brad Mears takes the opportunity to give members an update on current activities at SABCOHA and provide some insight into what lies ahead.

South Africa’s Business Coalition on HIV and Aids (SABCOHA) is a member-driven organisation that aims to mobilise and empower business in South Africa to take effective action on HIV/AIDS in the workplace and beyond and is seeking a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and a Data Manager.

The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) held its second meeting chaired by the Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in her capacity as chair of SANAC. The meeting was also attended by t he deputy chair Mr Mark Heywood, members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, including Ministers of Education Naledi Pandor and Public Service and Administration, Geraldine Fraser Molaketi, as well as the Deputy Minister of Social Development Jean Sawson-Jacobs and representatives of civil society organisations dealing with HIV and AIDS.

SABCOHA’s annual general meeting last week saw the appointment of a new chairperson, Jackie Tau (Aspen Pharmacare), several new board members and the endorsement of SABCOHA’s strategic direction.

SABCOHA has received funding to the tune of $8,5-million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen SMME workplace HIV responses.