Philipsburg:--In an effort to demonstrate their commitment, determination and willingness to assist in eradicating stigma and discrimination of persons affected or infected by HIVAIDS a local businessman has decided to rally his line of businesses in addressing HIVAIDS in the month of December.
Chandru Vanjani Director of Super Plaza announced in an exclusive interview that his stores; Su[per Plaza and Super Jewelry in St Maarten and Shoppers Plaza in St Kitts will be demonstrating through a number of initiatives in the month of December their commitment and willingness to address the issue of HIVAIDS. Vanjani said that the reality is that HIVAIDS is real and regardless of one's opinion and view of the disease there is a lot that needs to be done if eradication of the disease is going to be achieved.
"Many persons have varying views because of their social, religious, political and even economic status but at the end of the day it affects all of us regardless of our status and the time has come for us to say that Governments and those infected has to deal with it.
We got to realize that its no longer ‘there thing' but rather its our thing as we are either infected or affected in some way and more people primarily within the business sector has to come forward and do something positively that will help the cause," Vanjani said.
He cautioned "...if businessmen and women are not cognizant of the disease and its impact then their business is certainly going to be doomed as business owners need to get more intimately involve due to the fact that their employees once infected or affected will resonate to the business owners as if they can't work then that business will be affected in some way".
Vanjani commenting on the issue of stigma and discrimination regarding employees after their employers would have known about their HIV status noted that employees are under no legal obligation to disclose their HIV status to their employers, since HIV is not transmitted by casual contact, and they are not at risk to their fellow employees.
Drawing reference to his theory, Vanjani said that if some 20,000 persons who are HIV positive was to be taken and if half of that number works and produces $10.00 USD per day for five days a week, then for the year, they are contributing $26 million USD to the economy, this he said is a true demonstration of his view that regardless of someone's HIV status they can make a meaningful contribution to one's economy.
"So let us do not discard them... They are our brothers and sisters. HIV does not recognize race, religion, sexual orientation, status. So be careful," Vanjani reiterated.
The Super Plaza/ Shoppers Plaza Director explained the important role that education plays in spreading awareness of the infection, and urged for lifestyle changes which are necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.
He added that when AIDS first emerged, no one could have predicted how the epidemic would spread across the world, and how many millions of lives it would change. Already, more than 25 million people around the world have died of AIDS-related diseases.
According to UNAIDS/WHO statistics released recently last year, around 2.1 million men, women and children lost their lives. Thirty-three million people around the world are now living with HIV, and most of these are likely to die over the next decade or so.
It was noted that the UNAIDS/WHO estimates show that, last year alone, 2.5 million people were newly infected with HIV. "Something must and has to be done and as a businessman I am of the firm opinion that the time has come for us to stop waiting on governments and NGO's but rather we must begin to recognize that we need to give not only of our time but also of our resources," Vanjani declared.
He disclosed that throughout the month of December his stores will be releasing brochures and newsletters educating the public on the impact of the disease among being involved in a number of other projects.
