Communication tools used and their perceived effectiveness in disseminating HIV/AIDS messages for the workforce in ZAMTEL

Abstract

The report is as a result of the study on HIV/AIDS communication tools used by Zambia telecommunication company (Zamtel). Zamtel as a communication company aims at providing cost effective, comprehensive and high quality telecommunication facilities and services to its customers. The impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has not spared Zamtel. HIV/AIDS infectious related diseases have adversely increased costs such as cost of health care, funeral costs, cost of training and recruiting workers to replace the ill and dying, medical retirement and insurance costs among others. The hindrance to the fight against HIV/AIDS is lack of effective communication tools about the disease. However, Zamtel, is responding to the HIV/AIDS challenges in different ways. Some of the approaches include work place policies and programmes, undertaking extensive prevention and education efforts within their own operations and using effective communication channels as proactive measures designed to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS and its effects among the employees. The study intended to establish the communication tools used and their perceived effectiveness in disseminating HIV/AIDS messages for the workforce in Zamtel. For that reason, the report presents communication tools used such as workshops, seminars, magazines distribution, health talks, interpersonal communication and electronic media to disseminate HIV/AIDS information to employees. The findings showed that the majority of the respondents, 69.1 percent, revealed that the HIV/AIDS communication dissemination methods used by Zamtel were effective but the degree of effectiveness varied. Ultimately, the report presents recommendations for the future basing on the analysis of the findings of the study. Among the recommendations are that, Zamtel to seriously train peer educators among employees who will confidently and effectively disseminate HIV/AIDS information, Zamtel to use employees who have opened up living with HIV/AIDS to give testimony to help in behavioural change and also Zamtel to incorporate HIV/AIDS information during departmental meetings with staff.