UNICEF EGYPT STAFF MARK WORLD AIDS DAY WITH VOLUNTARY TESTING

George Ionita UNICEF Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor, takes a voluntary blood test

Cairo, December 2, 2004 – Staff at UNICEF's Cairo office marked World AIDS Day by taking part in voluntary blood tests to determine their own status for the disease.

As part of a global "Know Your HIV Status" initiative by UNICEF's New York headquarters, more than 30 staff members provided blood samples for HIV testing, as well as for hepatitis B and C. The tests were conducted, and the results will be provided, on the basis of strict confidentiality using numbered codes.

UNICEF Regional HIV/AIDS advisor, George Ionita, praised the initiative which he said underlined the United Nations' progressive approach towards protecting the rights of its personnel living with HIV/AIDS.

"The UN does not discriminate in any way against people living with HIV/AIDS, staff members or not", said Ionita. "People seeking jobs with the UN are not tested for the disease; any staff member who finds he or she has the disease is not fired. On the contrary, they keep their jobs, their medical benefits including low-cost treatment."

In a recent message to UNICEF staff, Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, said that the global reach of AIDS was having a direct impact on the organization.

"We have to acknowledge that we are going to lose staff to AIDS," Bellamy said. "Our staff has to know that we care about them. They have to know that they can get assistance."

UNICEF officials say that worldwide, up to 500 staff occupy a range of posts despite having HIV/AIDS.

"This just goes to show that having HIV/AIDS should no longer be considered a death sentence," added Ionita. "Being open about our own HIV/AIDS status is a step towards ending the stigma attached to the disease, and halting its spread."

For further information please contact:
Simon Ingram, UNICEF, Communication Officer / Cairo
singram@unicef.org

Nagui Kodsi, UNICEF, Assistant Communication Officer / Cairo, MENA Regional Chairperson of UNICEF Staff Association
nkodsi@unicef.org
Tel: (202) 526 5083-87 Ext 210 / 206