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THE COLLEGE POLICY ON HIV AND AIDS

OBJECTIVES

Darwin College has a published policy on HIV and AIDS to promote the well-being of its Fellows, students and staff. The aims of this policy are:

1. To inform, educate and maintain awareness of HIV infection and AIDS.
2. To state clearly the position of the College with respect to any Fellow, student or member of staff infected with HIV.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the most serious of the conditions which can be caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Most people infected with HIV are healthy but on present evidence most will ultimately develop AIDS. In persons with AIDS, HIV has caused part of the body's immune system to stop functioning properly and these people die from otherwise rare conditions because the damaged immune system cannot deal effectively with them.

Transmission

HIV is transmitted through infected blood and some body fluids (such as milk and genital tract fluids, including semen, vaginal fluid and menstrual blood), but not through saliva or sweat. The routes of transmission are sexual activity, injection of infected blood (including from needle-sharing by drug abusers) or from infected mother to foetus/infant. High risk sexual activities are unprotected penetrative sexual intercourse and unprotected oral sex if menstrual blood is present. In other, non-sexual, circumstances the risk of infection is negligible.

Occupational Transmission

HIV transmission in normal work situations is extremely low, and there is therefore no necessity to know who may have HIV infection. Few jobs have direct contact with blood or blood products.

THE COLLEGE

Point of Contact (HIV/AIDS Advisor)

The College accepts that an employee or member who is infected with HIV may not wish to reveal this information to their GP, dentist, College etc. Whilst the College acknowledges that there is no obligation on the part of the person to inform the College, it nevertheless recognizes the need for a College HIV/AIDS Advisor to whom people can go for advice, information and support. The HIV/AIDS Advisor is a point of contact for any member or employee with enquiries or worries about HIV/AIDS, and functions in complete confidence to advise the person concerned about responsible practices in respect of living or working in College. The Advisor can liaise with the other College Officers (eg. the Dean) should this be requested by the person concerned, and give information about other sources of support outside the College.

The Advisor has an educational role to inform members and employees of the College about HIV/AIDS and will consult an appropriate DCSA Officer on general aspects of HIV and AIDS.

Confidentiality

Members and staff will treat all information concerning the HIV status of individuals as strictly confidential. Disclosure may take place only on terms agreed with the person infected with HIV and informed consent must be obtained on each occasion. This confidentiality applies to enquiries both from potential employers and from next of kin. The College does not supply medical information on either its members or staff.

Discrimination

The College will not discriminate against HIV-infected individuals. It will treat them no differently from others in respect of accommodation, employment and special dispensation for periods of absence through ill-health.

Health Promotion

The College promotes education to ensure that members and staff have a basic understanding of HIV and AIDS and know how to minimise the risk of HIV infection. Everyone should know whom to approach for accurate, sensitive and confidential advice (see below).

Safety Procedures

The College recognizes the level of anxiety generated by inaccurate media coverage of HIV transmission at work, and the Bursar regularly reviews existing health and safety procedures to ensure minimal risk. Highlighting existing health and safety procedures and monitoring regularly the effectiveness with which they are applied will ensure the extremely low possibility of transmission is maintained. Certain members and employees, eg. first-aiders, may be more likely to encounter cases of accidental bleeding. These groups should become acquainted with more specific instructions such as those produced by the University Occupational Health Physician.

Worldwide Issues

HIV infection and AIDS occur in all parts of the world, but certain areas, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, have an especially high incidence. Unsafe sexual practices with people from these areas carry a greater risk of HIV infection. In these countries it may be wise to take certain medical supplies for use in emergencies (see Aids Advisor).

Travel and study abroad may require HIV testing to meet the entry regulations. Members should be informed by their departments before commencing courses or research if these will involve visits to countries requiring an HIV test. If a person does not wish to be tested, the Dean will support the making of alternative arrangements.

People who are Infected with HIV

Most people who are infected with HIV are healthy and remain so for years. Many are unaware that they are infected. The availability of effective drug treatment in developed countries now makes it more important for individuals to be aware if they are infected with HIV. The College does not consider that there is any need to change employment duties, academic activities or facilities used if an individual is aware of being infected with HIV.

Special Needs of People with AIDS

The College will support people who have AIDS. They may choose to continue to live and work within the College since most will remain well and able to cope with the demands of employment or academic life most of the time. However, there may be periods when specialized hospital care will be necessary. The College will try to meet the special needs of people with AIDS (eg. accommodation, heating, diets, transport arrangements), just as it would for those with other disabling conditions.

Responsibility

The College expects all members and staff to behave responsibly. Any persons who know themselves to be infected with HIV have a special obligation in this respect. In order that members and staff are aware of good practice at work, play, and during sexual contact, the College, through its HIV/AIDS Advisor:

1. Displays in the appropriate places guidelines on how to minimise the risk of infection;
2. Issues information on HIV/AIDS to all members and employees;
3. Can arrange regular voluntary HIV/AIDS awareness training sessions;
4. Prepares an annual report to assist review of the College HIV/AIDS policy.

SOURCES OF HELP AND INFORMATION

• College HIV/AIDS Advisor: Professor Patrick Sissons, Tel: (3)36848
• Cambridge AIDS Helpline, Tel: 369765 (Tues and Wed 7.30 - 10 p.m.; Sat 12 noon - 2 p.m.)
• Cambridge AIDS Action, Tel: 508805
• Clinic 1A, Addenbrookes' Hospital, Cambridge, Tel: 217774
• The University Counselling Service, 14 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, Tel: 332865
• AIDS Helpline, Tel: 0800 697697