June 02, 2007
SRCC Edging Torwards Best Practise Status In Workplace AIDS Programs

The Sundays River Citrus Company (Pty) Ltd, largest citrus packing and marketing operation of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, is not simply concerned about exporting good fruit, but is also demonstrating a real concern for the welfare of its labour force.

The SRCC, in 2005, implemented an elaborate HIV/AIDS prevention program, including a Peer Educator component. Peer Educators were trained and are supported by Doctors For Lifer International. International best practice criteria for AIDS activities in the workplace, suggests that top achievers not only invest within the company but also in the broader community where their workers are recruited from.

During 2006 and recently in May 2007, SRCC Peer Educators were trained in caring for terminal AIDS patients at home. This will meet the increasing requests from relatives and community members for PE’s to assist them in the care of dying community members, many previously employed by the SRCC.

The company is not content with this achievement but will soon also train all their Peer Educators on a 10 – Day course in Pre- and Post-test HIV counseling.

The second group of SRCC Peer Educators to complete a course in home based care, after the completion of their course. The DFL trainer, Heinrich Botes, is seated on the front, left while the Pack House managers joined in the celebration.

Enjoying a well – deserved break during the course.

Working in groups…against time and of course the other groups.