AIDS and Business 2002 €“ the corporate awakening

The world of commerce and industry is a behemoth which is often slow to change direction, but once it moves, it's virtually unstoppable. That is good news for South Africa, because business has finally woken up to the seriousness of the HIV epidemic and is taking steps to manage it.

AIDS-related Legislation for Employers

HIV/AIDS is a reality and it will hit at least 20-30% of the economically active and productive members of our population over the next 20 years. Economic productivity and consumption will fall dramatically as those who produce and consume the economic wealth die. No business will be unaffected.

Seeking a solution to HIV/AIDS €“ Eskom€™s strategic view

Like many other major corporations in South Africa, Eskom has taken a strategic view of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In consequence, the organisation has a multifaceted programme in place to tackle the disease from various angles. One part of the three-pronged approach to limiting the impact of AIDS on Eskom and its employees is handled by Eskom itself as an internal matter. The other two prongs fall within the portfolio of the Eskom Development Foundation. Both are aimed at limiting and ameliorating the impact of HIV on the wider community.

The challenge of HIV/AIDS for the Durban Chamber

"More people have died of AIDS in the past year in Africa than in all the wars on the continent." - Kofi Annan, March 2000

Durban Chamber Employee Assistance Programme

The devastating effects of HIV/AIDS have become a stark reality for business, and as a result, more comprehensive strategies are being sought to combat the epidemic. Business leaders are turning to creative ways in order to minimise the cost of absenteeism, low productivity, replacement labour and other direct and indirect effects of the epidemic. Simultaneous to the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, people living in Durban also suffer from high levels of physical, sexual, alcohol, drug, and emotional abuse.

Tackling HIV on the road

All over Africa, the truck routes are believed to have acted as a vector for HIV. Transport drivers are almost 100% men who spend long periods away from home. It is not difficult to come to the conclusion that at least some of these men will engage in casual sex somewhere on the road.

Medical schemes may pay for HIV drugs

The Council for Medical Schemes is proposing making various HIV/AIDS treatments minimum prescribed benefits that will have to be provided by all medical aid schemes.

Employees and HIV/AIDS : Action for Business Leaders

The Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS has recently launched 'Employees and HIV/AIDS: Action for Business Leaders'. Targeted at Chief Executives and senior company directors, the Guide condenses international guidelines into a set of short, easily accessible principles, backed up by actual company programmes from a wide range of industrial sectors, to demonstrate that implementing HIV/AIDS workplace programmes is both feasible and cost-effective.

'Business ill-equipped to deal with AIDS'

South African businesses are ill-equipped to deal with the devastating effects of AIDS in the workplace.

Nedcor sponsors Sinikithemba's Symphony of Hope

The Sinikithemba HIV/AIDS Christian Care Centre, based at McCord Hospital in Overport, Durban, has been providing dedicated services to HIV-positive patients since 1996. A gala evening event called "Symphony of Hope" was recently held at the Durban City Hall to raise funds for the Care Centre's new premises, Ridge House.