Fishing industry acknowledge HIV/AIDS

Namibian fishing companies are exchanging ideas on how to adapt existing policies to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on the workplace. Around 20 industry representatives gathered recently in Walvis Bay, the country's only deep-sea harbour, to discuss ways of assisting management in dealing with HIV-positive workers. According to Amalia Sheehama, an occupational nurse with leading deep-sea fishing company Gendor, the discussions were "much-needed and long overdue". "We are looking at ways and means to accommodate such workers, instead of having them summarily fired from the workplace - such workers must be afforded the same rights as their non-infected counterparts. Therefore it is incumbent on all companies to humanely treat workers and show compassion for their plight," Sheehama told the local New Era newspaper.