May 2005 Draft agreed by ALT
Foreword
This document presents organisational policy and practice within Youth With A Mission (YWAM).
It applies to YWAM personnel (staff and students). While the policy attempts to be as comprehensive as possible, some issues, particularly legal issues, are specific to each country. It is advised that YWAM leaders in each nation should consult country policies to determine the rights of employees and/or volunteers with HIV or AIDS.
Principles
"The Lord is gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all and he has compassion on all he has made (Ps 145:8-9)."
Our God is full of mercy and compassion to all, including those who are living with HIV. God calls us as an organisation to love and accept adults and children who are living with HIV. God has a message of hope for all affected by the disease. As we embrace God’s kingdom values and through his power, live according to his ways, change in our communities is possible. Each country in the world has HIV and it touches every aspect of society.
What is HIV and AIDS?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system. The body is therefore less able to fight off infections. People who have HIV infection are HIV positive (HIV+)
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, which is a collection of signs and symptoms resulting from infection with HIV.
HIV enters the body through contact with infected body fluids. The main routes of transmission are:
- Sexual intercourse
- Contaminated blood products
- Contaminated needles, syringes and cutting instruments such as razors
- Mother to child
Prevention
There is no vaccine that can prevent HIV. Therefore protection is by understanding the facts and following appropriate behaviour.
- YWAM must provide sufficient updated information to educate staff and students about protection from, and living with, HIV/AIDS.
- It is good practice to provide HIV/AIDS and Health and Safety training:
- on every DTS
- in briefing new staff and outreach teams
- at least every 2 years for staff
- In response to training, YWAM staff and students must take precautions wherever possible to avoid placing themselves and others at risk from HIV exposure.
- YWAM believes that God has appointed sexual intercourse to be between husband and wife. Faithfulness within this relationship is the only way to be sure that HIV is not transmitted. YWAM seeks to multiply healthy family relationships that model and teach God’s purposes for family as a way to address the AIDS crisis at its roots. This needs to be a priority in our prevention strategy.
- Health and safety policy and practice must be up to date and applied in every day life
(Appendix 1)
Post exposure prophylaxis: In the event of a situation where there has been potential exposure to HIV (such as needle-stick injury or rape), medical advice should be sought as soon as possible to assist in limiting transmission.
Non-discrimination
- Youth With A Mission does not discriminate against those who are HIV positive.
- YWAM considers applications regardless of HIV status.
- YWAM does not consider HIV infection a basis for suspension or termination of service. HIV infection does not, in itself, constitute a lack of fitness to work.
- YWAM staff or students who are, or are suspected to be affected by HIV/AIDS, must be protected from stigmatization and discrimination by other staff. HIV is not spread through ordinary work or social contact. There is no medical reason for unwillingness to work with others who are HIV positive. YWAM staff or students who are HIV positive may live on base, using the same facilities such as bathrooms, just like any other person.
- Good information and training helps to prevent discrimination and prejudice.
HIV Testing and Confidentiality
- YWAM aims to provide a loving environment in which people feel free to share personal information and receive pastoral care and support.
- Subject to national law, testing for HIV is not compulsory within YWAM. Applicants are not obliged to declare their HIV status, nor whether they have been tested for HIV.
- Testing is strongly recommended e.g. if an individual has been at risk, wants to marry, or become pregnant. Professional advice and counselling should always accompany HIV testing.
- Confidentiality should be maintained with respect to a person’s HIV and test status. Only the person tested has the right to release information regarding his/her status.
- If the person decides to share this information, it remains confidential to whom the disclosure is made. Others will not know unless the person agrees.
- Confidentiality may be broken only if an HIV positive person rejects warning and is putting other lives at risk, without them knowing. In such cases, reference must be made to national legal policy on disclosure.
Care
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. Drug treatment, where available, can delay progression of the disease. This disease affects mainly the young productive members of society, leaving families and communities lacking carers and people able to work.
- YWAM will treat people living with HIV as any other staff member or student. They will be encouraged to continue to work as long as they are medically able. Depending on their medical condition, flexible working hours and time off for counselling and medical appointments, transfer to lighter duties, part-time work, extended sick leave, and return to work arrangements can be made.
- Care for those who are HIV positive should be holistic: physical, emotional, social and spiritual to strengthen self-esteem. It is recommended that support is also sought from family, church, counsellors and community groups to enable Godly living with the virus.
- YWAM will offer referral for supportive counselling as available.
- Maintaining health, balanced diet and exercise assists general well being, including those who are HIV positive. People living with HIV have lowered immunity and greater vulnerability to sickness. Therefore it is important that all YWAM personnel have medical attention for illnesses so they do not put others at risk.
- Medical expenses are the responsibility of each individual YWAM staff or student. YWAM is not liable to cover costs of health care, funerals nor dependants.
- In some countries YWAM recommends that all staff and students have adequate medical insurance for appropriate medical care and emergencies.
- YWAM does not have staff nor facilities to provide hospice care. Each situation needs to be dealt with sensitively, involving the person’s family, friends and home church wherever possible. Offering additional support to the family and/or friends of those who are infected may also enable them to cope with the impact of HIV on their lives; however this must not compromise confidentiality.
YWAM responsibility
- Protection from HIV is the responsibility of each individual.
- YWAM leaders at each location are responsible for:
- Knowledge of YWAM Africa HIV/AIDS policy
- Knowledge of national laws and policies related to HIV/AIDS and employment rights
- Briefing new staff and students about the policies
- Inclusion of HIV/AIDS policy in DTS and staff training
- Management of staff, teams and departments to minimise problems related to HIV/AID
- Information on local centres for voluntary HIV testing, counselling and health care. If available, emergency telephone numbers should be made known to staff in case of accidents, assaults, rape, etc.
- Promotion of a safe, healthy, caring, non-discriminatory environment
- At every base, specific staff should be trained in health and safety, and encouraged to give advice:
- to leadership on best practice in difficult or sensitive situations.
- on where to obtain voluntary counselling for pre and post-HIV testing
- on prevention of mother to child transmission
- on post-exposure prophylaxis in case of emergency
- on local access to affordable anti-retroviral treatment, with counselling
- to update with current knowledge, prevalence (percentage of people infected) and practice in HIV/AIDS issues
Appendix 1
Health and Safety measures:
- Precautionary measures must be taken to reduce risk of HIV transmission.
- Good hygiene should be kept on each base
- Universal precautions should be followed when dealing with body fluids (see section on Health care settings below)
- Appropriate disinfectants and cleaning materials should be available, not only to prevent the risk of possible transmission, but also to protect those who are HIV+ from possible sickness
- First aid kits should be available on all bases, YWAM vehicles and at all outreach locations, containing items such as plasters, disposable gloves and oral resuscitation mouthpieces. Items such as disposable syringes and needles should be carried by YWAM staff and students in places where there is no guarantee of the proper sterilization of such materials.
- In some nations where screening of donated blood may not be guaranteed, staff and students should be aware of safe sources. It is advisable that YWAM teams are aware of each other’s blood type before going on outreach to a country where screening of donated blood can not be guaranteed. If, in an event of an accident, the need occurs for blood to be given to a staff member or student, other team members can make themselves available as a blood donor. Blood typing and HIV testing should be done before blood is given (never assume a person is HIV negative).
- YWAM must take action to reduce the possibility of accidents which present a risk for HIV infection in places where safe blood supplies are uncertain. In particular, transport policy should include:
- Vehicle maintenance and insurance
- Use of seat belts
- Qualified drivers
- Use of helmets for motor-bike riders
- Building maintenance policy should require the use of protective head gear and clothing.
- All equipment should be checked regularly and withdrawn from use if damaged.
Health care settings:
All YWAM staff involved in giving health care must understand and use Universal Precautions with all patients, at all times, in all settings, regardless of the diagnosis. Universal Precautions include:
- Careful handling and disposal of anything sharp
- Hand washing with soap and water before and after all procedures; use of protective barriers such as gloves, gowns, aprons, and goggles for direct contact with blood and other body fluids
- Safe disposal of waste contaminated with blood or body fluids
- Proper disinfection of instruments and other contaminated equipment
- Proper handling of soiled linen
For full details please see: http://www.who.int/health-services-delivery/hiv_aids/English/fact-sheet-11/
Or http://www3.who.int/whosis/factsheets_hiv_nurses/fact-sheet-11/
Appendix 2
References:
1. Bible (New International Version)
2. Youth With A Mission (YWAM) General Policy on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the workplace (March 1996)
3. AIDS and HIV Infection, UNAIDS, (2003)
4. Beautiful Gate HIV and AIDS Policy (May 2004)
5. HIV & the Law. The AIDS Law project: University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
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