The Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (Sestuz) has said about 600 teachers die annually from HIV/AIDS-related illness. Sestuz general secretary Evan Machayi said the number was so alarming that his union would strengthen its HIV/AIDS programmes to reverse the trend. He explained that the union, in its quest to address the issue, had introduced focal persons at places of work to coordinate programmes. Sestuz deputy general secretary, Emmanuel Zulu, who also described the high number of deaths as alarming, said the union was focusing on making sure that the members knew their status. Zulu, who is the national focal point person of the HIV/AIDS workplace programme, said the union had partnered with the New Start Centre in mobilisation and sensitisation programmes aimed at educating members on the need to go for voluntary counselling and testing.
