HIV/Aids to Shrink Sub-Saharan Africa's Labour Force
By 2010, Sub-Saharan Africa's total labour force is expected to have shrunk by nine per cent due to HIV/AIDS, a meeting in Ghana heard last week. Labour losses may top 20 per cent in the worst affected countries.
By 2015 the losses could reach up to 12 per cent overall, reducing the labour supply by as much 30-40 per cent in the highest prevalence countries, a press release sent to The Daily Monitor stated.
Over one hundred representatives from the public and private sectors concluded a two-day policy dialogue workshop Friday in Accra on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
The workshop, organized by the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA) in collaboration with ILO-AIDS, part of the International Labour Organization, aimed to provide African policy makers with recommendations to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the continent's labour force.
In his welcome address, Yam Barimah, Minister for Manpower Development and Employment, said: "As AIDS gathers momentum, the workplace can play a frontline role in preventing its further spread by coping with the effects of the disease on individuals, their families and communities."
A representative speaking on behalf of Ghana's Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu, underscored the alarming statistics and also stressed the need for effective responses.
He said: "AIDS poses the gravest threat to Africa's development. If the epidemic rages unchecked, the continent faces a spiral of decline. Nevertheless, this disaster can be prevented. As Africans we must take greater responsibility for creating a capable environment for an effective and sustainable response."
Workshop participants called for a greater collaboration between the public and private sectors. A representative from Sierra Leone stressed that "although the government has taken the lead in providing treatment, we are looking for more partners to come on board to bridge the gap in the supply of treatment and care for our employees."
Participants also emphasized the need for leadership from all major sectors of industry. Professor Amoa, Director General, Ghana AIDS Commission, said: "Africa is already marginalized in the global trade and the digital divide has worsened our ability to compete It is time for all champions of industry to summon their strength and commitment to respond by developing appropriate policy frameworks for HIV/AIDS. "
The issue of access to treatment and care was also one of the key points of the discussions between representatives of the private and public sectors.
A participant from Coca-Cola Corporation said: "As one of the largest employers in Africa, we feel we have to do our part to combat HIV/AIDS. We offer our employees 100 percent coverage for ARV treatment and extend our support programmes to the communities they live in. We believe in the collaboration of all sectors, public, private, UN agencies, the communities to combat HIV/AIDS."
The Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa is a UN system-wide initiative, involving partnerships with a number of UN agencies, as well as leading institutions in Africa and internationally on aspects of research, policy and implementation.
By 2010, Sub-Saharan Africa's total labour force is expected to have shrunk by nine per cent due to HIV/AIDS, a meeting in Ghana heard last week. Labour losses may top 20 per cent in the worst affected countries.
By 2015 the losses could reach up to 12 per cent overall, reducing the labour supply by as much 30-40 per cent in the highest prevalence countries, a press release sent to The Daily Monitor stated.
Over one hundred representatives from the public and private sectors concluded a two-day policy dialogue workshop Friday in Accra on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
The workshop, organized by the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA) in collaboration with ILO-AIDS, part of the International Labour Organization, aimed to provide African policy makers with recommendations to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the continent's labour force.
In his welcome address, Yam Barimah, Minister for Manpower Development and Employment, said: "As AIDS gathers momentum, the workplace can play a frontline role in preventing its further spread by coping with the effects of the disease on individuals, their families and communities."
A representative speaking on behalf of Ghana's Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu, underscored the alarming statistics and also stressed the need for effective responses.
He said: "AIDS poses the gravest threat to Africa's development. If the epidemic rages unchecked, the continent faces a spiral of decline. Nevertheless, this disaster can be prevented. As Africans we must take greater responsibility for creating a capable environment for an effective and sustainable response."
Workshop participants called for a greater collaboration between the public and private sectors. A representative from Sierra Leone stressed that "although the government has taken the lead in providing treatment, we are looking for more partners to come on board to bridge the gap in the supply of treatment and care for our employees."
Participants also emphasized the need for leadership from all major sectors of industry. Professor Amoa, Director General, Ghana AIDS Commission, said: "Africa is already marginalized in the global trade and the digital divide has worsened our ability to compete It is time for all champions of industry to summon their strength and commitment to respond by developing appropriate policy frameworks for HIV/AIDS. "
The issue of access to treatment and care was also one of the key points of the discussions between representatives of the private and public sectors.
A participant from Coca-Cola Corporation said: "As one of the largest employers in Africa, we feel we have to do our part to combat HIV/AIDS. We offer our employees 100 percent coverage for ARV treatment and extend our support programmes to the communities they live in. We believe in the collaboration of all sectors, public, private, UN agencies, the communities to combat HIV/AIDS."
The Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa is a UN system-wide initiative, involving partnerships with a number of UN agencies, as well as leading institutions in Africa and internationally on aspects of research, policy and implementation.
posted by Dr Philippe Maslo at 11:54
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