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HIV/AIDS
related deaths amongst teachers
Progressive
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ)
Circular to Members Number 10 of 2005
September 19, 2005
Your Union has
just completed a survey of the effects of HIV/ AIDS amongst teachers
in Zimbabwe. The results are shocking to say the least. The following
statistics speak for themselves.
Deaths of
teachers by province
|
Province
|
1
Jan-31 Dec 2004
|
1
Jan –31 Jul 2005
|
|
Harare
|
89
|
60
|
|
Bulawayo
|
56
|
39
|
|
Midlands
|
63
|
41
|
|
Manicaland
|
56
|
31
|
|
Masvingo
|
53
|
21
|
|
Mashonaland
Central
|
57
|
41
|
|
Mashonaland
East
|
69
|
36
|
|
Mashonaland
West
|
43
|
33
|
|
Matabeleland
North
|
38
|
37
|
|
Matabeleland
South
|
42
|
23
|
| |
|
|
|
Total
|
566
|
362
|
The above statistics
show that the country is losing teachers at an alarming rate. The
majority of these teachers are succumbing to HIV/AIDS related illnesses.
As teachers we contribute about $1,8 billion dollars to the National
Aids Council (NAC) coffers every month. It is a fact that many of
these teachers would still be alive today if they were provided
with anti-retroviral drugs. The NAC has to date released funds to
the army, police, prison services and other organizations. Yet there
are no specific funds or programmes for teachers. It appears there
is a deliberate plan to exclude teachers from benefiting from the
fund, regardless of the fact that our contribution to the NAC fund
is the highest among civil servants.
Our protests
on your behalf have been ignored. We have written to the NAC on
numerous occasions asking them to explain their criteria for the
award of grants. We have also told them that HIV/AIDS is not just
a matter for health professionals but is also trade union issue.
On all of the occasions the NAC has either failed or neglected to
respond to our communication.
Anti-retroviral
drugs prolong lives. Teachers need them. We are therefore urging
you to write to the following organizations urging them to help
teachers get anti-retroviral drugs. You should demand your right
to have free or subsidised drugs.
- National
Aids Council. Box MP1311, Mt Pleasant,Harare.
- Ministry
Of Education Sport and Culture Box Cy 121. Causeway, Harare.
- Ministry
of Health and Child Welfare Box Cy 1122, Causeway, Harare
- Zimbabwe
Congress of trade Unions (ZCTU) P. O. Box 3549, Harare.
- International
Labour Organisation (Harare Office) Box 210, Harare.
Please note
that the Union has purchased large quantities of condoms. School
Reps can pick them up from our offices for distribution to teachers.
Best Regards
Raymond Majongwe
Secretary
General
Visit the PTUZ
fact sheet
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