John Keells Foundation commemorated the World AIDS Day by pinning Red Ribbons on the Executive Directors, management and staff members of John Keells Holdings at the Head Office premises.

World AIDS Day, held each year on December 1, is an opportunity to celebrate and support global efforts to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, prevent new HIV infections and support those living with HIV. Whilst the John Keells Group’s HIV & AIDS Workplace Policy reinforces that we do not discriminate in the workplace against employees on the basis of real or perceived HIV status, the Group’s CSR entity, John Keells Foundation (JKF), has espoused the prevention of HIV as well as prevention of discrimination of persons living with HIV through its 14 year project – John Keells HIV & AIDS Awareness Campaign. Under this campaign over 130,600 persons both within and outside the Group have been sensitised as at 31st October 2019, volunteer employees have been trained and mobilized as Master Trainers on HIV and an e-learning platform on HIV & AIDS has been developed and made accessible free of charge to any person over the age of 18 on its website. At business level, staff awareness and sensitisation continues to be driven through the Master Trainers.

As highlighted by UN Secretary-General’s Message for 2019:
”Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, as we committed to in the Sustainable Development Goals, will require a continuous collaborative effort. …………. As the theme of this year’s observance rightly highlights, communities make the difference.

More than ever we need to harness the role of community-led organizations that advocate for their peers, deliver HIV services, defend human rights and provide support. ………… With communities, we can end AIDS.” – António Guterres