The coalition will begin contacting the HIV/AIDS co-ordinators in these municipalities to introduce BizAIDS to them. Among the NGOs funded by the department are organisations working with vulnerable and high-risk groups coming from a variety of disciplines. These organisations work with sex workers, hostel residents, traditional health practitioners, the youth, folk in correctional centres, Muslim groups, transgender groups, the blind and the deaf.

The following Service and Reporting Standards will apply to SABCOHA:

• Provide training to very small and micro enterprises (VSMEs) on HIV and AIDS programmes based on the Gauteng AIDS Programme content;
• Sustain appropriate standards of governance, financial management, project management, administration and reporting;
• Co-operate with monitoring visits scheduled and unscheduled; and
• Training content to be consistent with the Gauteng AIDS Programme:

1. Prevention of HIV transmission, especially reduction of sex partners;
2. Comprehensive health care including healthy lifestyle; and
3. Social support for VSMEs affected by AIDS and their families.

The project runs from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.

BizAIDS

BizAIDS is a tool to help VSMEs owners prepare for HIV/AIDS and related emergencies.

The goal of the BizAIDS programme is to mitigate the economic impact of HIV/AIDS on micro and small businesses - 10 and fewer employees - their owners, employees, families, and the greater community.

The objectives of the programme are to:

• Assess the small business environment and services to support their dealing with HIV/AIDS;
• Train individuals to prepare for and manage the impact of HIV/AIDS on their income, businesses, employees and families; and
• Support access to HIV/AIDS-related services for programme participants, including VCT and treatment.

The BizAIDS methodology is based on practical assistance for people engaged in the informal, micro and small business sectors. The programme is successful because it provides simple, workable systems for both business and health.

BizAIDS offers basic money management and business training, while introducing the concepts of HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and treatment in a non-threatening, integrated manner. It allows participants to speak freely about how HIV/AIDS is affecting their businesses, employees, families, and even themselves.

The stigma of HIV/AIDS is reduced in this setting, and results have shown that there is a renewed sense of confidence in training participants in how to help themselves, their employees, and families to deal with the disease.

Since 2004, SABCOHA has been instrumental in training almost 2 800 participants. Currently, with the United States' CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), BizAIDS is implementing workshops for 250 participants in Gauteng and 250 based in the Port Elizabeth area.

Click here for more information on BizAIDS.