LBCH launches revamped website

'Passing Awareness' symbolic red cushion :

The Lanka Business Coalition on HIV and Aids (LBCH) launched their revamped website 'www.lbchconnect.com' with information and updates to educate, inform and raise awareness on HIV and AIDS on the premise that there is still a high level of ignorance of the disease and that prevention is better than cure. The event was attended by International Labour Organization's (ILO) Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Donglin Li.

The present Chairman, of LBCH's Dr Kishu Gomes, Country Chairman for Chevron's Sri Lanka business operations and CEO and Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Lanka, said that the website was a need of the hour and would reach a wider audience of Sri Lanka's workforce in the manufacturing, trade, export and tourism sectors. "LBCH is committed to creating adequate attention on the pandemic among people which in turn greatly impacts economic growth of our Country" he emphasized.

This year's campaign developed by Bates Strategic Alliance saw a symbolic bright red cushion inscribed with the words 'Pass on Awareness, not HIV' being passed among over 60 LBCH member corporates representing Sri Lanka's top industries, in a 'passing the pillow' initiative.

The cushion was passed among LBCH members; Chevron, Standard Chartered Bank, John Keells, DFCC Bank, Hatton National Bank, Etisalat, Brandix, Dialog, AMCHAM and Jetwing, each retaining it as a symbol of commitment towards a concerted effort to educate their employees on mitigating the threat of HIV and AIDS in the workplace and community.

The projected cumulative loss of the labour force due to AIDS by 2015 is estimated to be a staggering 74 million, and it is crucial to note that, two thirds of new infections can be prevented through awareness. The Sri Lanka Business Coalition on HIV and Aids (LBCH) comprises sixty seven of Sri Lanka's top business organisations, which have joined forces and pledged their support towards this cause.