The Business Response to HIV/AIDS: Impact and lesson learned

Contents
Introduction 5
THE CHALLENGE OF HIV/AIDS 7
1. Profile of HIV/AIDS 7
2. The global and regional trends 8
3. Factors influencing the spread of HIV/AIDS 10
A. Ignorance and denial 10
B. Increase in mobility and industrialisation 10
4. The public and non-profit sector response 11
S THE BUSINESS IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS 13
1. Macroeconomic impact 13
2. Individual company level impact 14
A. Productivity 15
i. Increased absenteeism 15
ii. Increased organisational disruption 16
B. Increased costs 16
3. Low prevalence rates and inaction 17
THE BUSINESS RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS 19
1. Addressing core business operations 20
A. Protecting the workforce and their families 20
B. Protecting business interests 24
2. Business partners: a multiple stakeholder response 25
A. Participation of small and medium sized enterprises 25
i. Small and medium sized enterprises action 25
ii. Assisting small and medium sized enterprises - business linkages 26
a. Direct partnership with individual small and medium sized enterprises 26
b. Collective cooperation between large enterprise and small and
medium sized enterprise sectors 27
B. Educating customers 27
3. Community involvement 28
4. Advocacy and leadership 39
5. Lessons from the Business Response to HIV/AIDS 30

THE BUSINESS RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS: Impact and lessons learned