K100,000 for healthy workplace program

SP Brewery (SPB) has come back on board for the second year to sponsor Businesses For Health (B4H:TB) Papua New Guinea, to help support their drive in promoting health with the private sector.

B4H is a registered not-for-profit association that is managed by a committee of business and donor parties. The organisation provides workplace health advocacy, policy and workplace TB training services, in coordination with all levels of the PNG National TB program.

“We understand the dilemma of tuberculosis in PNG and SPB as a company that is concerned about the health and well-being of its employees, as well as Papua New Guineans in general,” said SPB Corporate Affairs Manager, John Nilkare.

“In saying that, I am happy to present this cheque of K100,000 sponsorship that will be divided over a period of three years to the Businesses4Health, as I believe we are supporting a worthy cause.”

In response, Project Manager, Dr Ann Clarke, said: “On behalf of the B4H PNG Board, management and staff, we are delighted that SP Brewery has recommitted its support to B4H over the next three years.

“Businesses for Health is designed to mitigate the impact of the Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) epidemics in the private sector and updates the work of the Business Coalition against HIV and AIDS (BAHA).

“B4H offers TB and HIV workplace policy, information and training services. B4H:TB’s mission is to engage every workplace in a planned and efficient workplace TB response.

“B4H trains workplace wardens in TB, early TB case finding, how to support employees return to work and to complete their treatment, as TB is a challenge in PNG and B4H only exists because PNG has such as high TB burden, high rates of drug resistant TB and TB/HIV co-infection,” said Dr Clarke.

Apart from high quality workplace TB training, B4H also offers TB programs, in which the public can take part. This includes the very successful “cover your cough” bumper sticker campaign, which can be seen all over PNG.

B4H uses Facebook to promote health and current information about TB prevention and services. The page engages TB trainees and their friends in vibrant accurate conversation about TB. The website offers current information about TB and HIV services and promotes the work of TB trainees in workplaces throughout PNG.

(Left: SP Brewery Corporate Affairs Manager, John Nilkare, presenting the K100,000 sponsorship cheque to B4H Project Lead, Dr. Ann Clarke)

Author: 
Press release