in_the_evidence

Disseminate policies in the form of guidelines and codes of practices for application at the level of
health facilities, and ensure provision of budgets for the training and material inputs to make them
operational.

Develop and implement training programmes for pre-service, in-service and continuing education
on TB and HIV prevention, treatment and care services, integrating with existing programmes and
including managers and worker representatives as well as health workers.

In conjunction with health workers’ representatives, develop and implement programmes for regular, free, voluntary, and confidential counselling and testing for HIV and TB, including addressing sexual and reproductive health issues, as well as intensified case finding in the families of health workers with TB.

Develop or strengthen existing infection control programmes, especially with respect to TB
infection control, and ensure integration with other workplace health and safety programmes.

Develop or strengthen existing occupational health services for the entire health workforce so that access to HIV and TB prevention, treatment and care can be realized.

Introduce new, or reinforce existing, policies that prevent discrimination against health workers
with HIV or TB, and adopt interventions aimed at stigma reduction among colleagues and
supervisors.

Develop and implement mechanisms for monitoring the availability of these TREAT policy
guidelines at the national level, as well as the dissemination of these policies and their application
in the healthcare setting.

Establish schemes for reasonable accommodation and compensation, including, as appropriate,
paid leave, early retirement benefits and death benefits in the event of occupationally-acquired
disease.

In the context of preventing co-morbidity, provide universal availability of a comprehensive
package of prevention and care for all HIV positive health workers, including IPT and CTX
prophylaxis, with appropriate information on the benefits and risks.

Provide free HIV and TB treatment for health workers in need facilitating the delivery of these services in a non-stigmatizing, gender-sensitive, confidential, and convenient setting when there is no staff clinic and/or their own facility does not offer ART, or where health workers prefer services off-site.