| dc.description.abstract | One of the major institutional impediments is that of attracting and retaining a productive workforce (Thomas & Znaniecki: 1927, Whelan et al: 1999). This is because human resource management is complicated by notable organization's focus on the overall performance and customer satisfaction in order to achieve its goals but ignores human resource practices (Gareth & lennifer: 2003). In the recent times organizational ability to meet their goals is further frustrated by onset of HTV & AIDS related stressors which affect productivity (whelan et al: 1999).
This study therefore aims to establish social interventions, not being part of health programmes, and challenges in the implementations of HIV & AIDS programs. The interventions are part of a wider employees wellbeing strategy that is meant to address potential stressors relating to the environment in which the employees work. the nature of the work itself, fear. victimization, discrimination and stigmatization (Fineman: 1993).
This study examines the theories of Employee Assistance programmes by Mcleod (2000) which emphasizes employees wellbeing advocated by Rogers (1978) on humanistic approach and Freud's (1923) behavioral therapy, all of which are meant to address specific forms of diagnosable mental illnesses related to bereavement, relationship breakdown and uncontrolled diseases such as HIV& AIDS, T8, leprosy with damaging features on morale. Often, workers are afraid of colleagues who are infected/affected with these types of diseases lest they too be affected. This result in an atmosphere of tension, suspicion, and discrimination and stigma within the workforce (Daly: 2000).
There is therefore a primary concern to bridge the gap between approaches used to illnesses and medical systems (Kaliba and Kaleeba: 1989) to avoid what Cooper (1990) explains as an 'ambulance chasingmentality' in promoting counselling services to help individual with emotional problems. Hence counselling is typically met with scepticism and resistance. Therefore placing relevant strategies and policies is useful in influencing employees' behaviour, attitude and performance to support business goals and objectives (Noe, et al: 2003).
This research uses a case study methodology to assess institutional challenges, which are social and economic ( Aventin & Huard: 1995-1996), and HIV& AIDS interventions in the state corporations. Kenya Pipeline Company limited is selected as a case. Guidance and Counselling, Focus Peer group discussions, Voluntary Counselling and Testing, Programs on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Full engagement of People living with IIIV/AIDS, Home Based Care, Outreach Counselling and awareness campaign are supported by Policies for care and support for people living with HIV & AIDS as interventions on the challenges in the implementation of HIV & AIDS programs. Open and closed-ended Questions were purposively administered to 37 managers, chiefs and senior officers by ways of hand-de livery and later collected at an agreed time (Pretty et al: 1995) for primary data, whereas, desk review of documents was used to collect secondary data.
This triangulation of research, suggests a combination of approaches that is plausible in design (Denzin: 1970 & Hart: 1987). The choice for these respondents stemmed from the considerations that as top managerial staff, the respondents are most familiar with the strategic management processes in the corporation. Data were then collected systematically in order to answer the research questions in a conclusive way (Abramson: 1990) and made possible by a means of Excel ®spreadsheet. Data was then analysed with SPSS statistical analysis software var 12 (South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL) ant to establish the existence of the social approaches, their effectiveness and the challenges in their implementation.
The results show significant challenges in the implementation of HIV & AIDS program due to inadequate policies and ignorance on the part of management. Notably Voluntary Counselling and Testing, Programs on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, People living with HIV & AIDS, Home Based Care and Outreach Counselling were ranked low requiring aggressive outreach, lobbying and advocacy. However, a greater percentage strongly agrees that social approaches exist in the company. Challenges include those related to social-cultural, political, legal and high costs in the management of HIV & AIDS, despite significant efforts made by KPC. | en_US |
