AFRICA: African Companies Expect HIV to Have Severe Adverse Effect on Business
Associated Press (06.03.04) - Friday, June 04, 2004
Emmanuel Ntave
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In a World Economic Forum survey of 1,620 companies in 22 African countries, only 12 percent had written polices on HIV/AIDS despite 89 percent being concerned about the pandemic's impact on business and 60 percent expecting it to have a significant adverse effect. Almost half (48 percent) reported reduced productivity and increased absenteeism, and 44 percent reported increased costs of training and recruitment. The survey was released Wednesday at WEF's Africa Economic Summit in Maputo.
The pandemic's impact is so severe the World Bank warned that without effective action to combat HIV/AIDS parts of the continent could economically collapse.
Yet when African companies do act to fight the disease, they are generally successful, said Kate Taylor, WEF Global Health Initiative's director. For example, most of those employees who receive treatment from the mining firm Anglo American have returned to work. Anglo American's program has increased HIV/AIDS awareness and reduced stigma among its workers, and it has significantly increased the numbers willing to be tested.
"We are delighted that we can show some success stories and not just present a picture of doom and gloom," said Taylor. "More needs to be done. But if African business could share its experience and action with business leaders in other, less progressed countries in the developing and developed world, it would be a significant step in the fight against HIV/AIDS."
The annual WEF summit, whose goal is to address Africa's development challenges, attracted some 750 leaders from business, politics and civil society in over 43 countries.
Associated Press (06.03.04) - Friday, June 04, 2004
Emmanuel Ntave
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a World Economic Forum survey of 1,620 companies in 22 African countries, only 12 percent had written polices on HIV/AIDS despite 89 percent being concerned about the pandemic's impact on business and 60 percent expecting it to have a significant adverse effect. Almost half (48 percent) reported reduced productivity and increased absenteeism, and 44 percent reported increased costs of training and recruitment. The survey was released Wednesday at WEF's Africa Economic Summit in Maputo.
The pandemic's impact is so severe the World Bank warned that without effective action to combat HIV/AIDS parts of the continent could economically collapse.
Yet when African companies do act to fight the disease, they are generally successful, said Kate Taylor, WEF Global Health Initiative's director. For example, most of those employees who receive treatment from the mining firm Anglo American have returned to work. Anglo American's program has increased HIV/AIDS awareness and reduced stigma among its workers, and it has significantly increased the numbers willing to be tested.
"We are delighted that we can show some success stories and not just present a picture of doom and gloom," said Taylor. "More needs to be done. But if African business could share its experience and action with business leaders in other, less progressed countries in the developing and developed world, it would be a significant step in the fight against HIV/AIDS."
The annual WEF summit, whose goal is to address Africa's development challenges, attracted some 750 leaders from business, politics and civil society in over 43 countries.
posted by Dr Philippe Maslo at 14:44
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