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SA firms leading HIV/Aids fight
02/06/2005 14:18 - (SA)
Lynn Bolin
Cape Town - A World Economic Forum survey has shown that South African companies are leading the way in the response to HIV/Aids on the continent.
The survey of 1 552 African-based companies, showed that 91% of South African companies have an HIV/Aids policy in place.
The survey, released at the WEF Africa Economic Summit in Cape Town on Thursday, showed that shrinking labour pools, increased costs and decreased productivity were significantly impacting the competitiveness of African business.
On average, 51% of African businesses felt the impact of HIV/Aids on their revenues. The largest costs stemmed from lower productivity and absenteeism (experienced by 53% of businesses), and recruitment and training expenses (incurred by 49% of businesses).
Although many South African companies had policies in place, the WEF's associate director for its Global Health Initiative, Francesca Boldrini, said the study showed there was little room for complacency across the continent.
Sub-Saharan African companies were not responding quickly enough, as on average only 34% had either a written or informal HIV/Aids policy in place, and up to 93% were already feeling the impact of HIV/Aids on their operations.
"This year's Africa Economic Summit is in Cape Town, and we are delighted to be able to say it is South African companies that are leading the way in their awareness of the HIV/Aids problem and its impact on the workforce," said Boldrini.
"In line with the Commission for Africa's recommendations, we believe more businesses in other African countries need to follow this example."
The positive news, she said, was that when African companies did act against HIV/Aids, they were generally doing it well, with some of the strongest HIV/Aids business efforts in the world taking place in Africa, including workplace programmes at Anglo American (AGL), BMW, Heineken, VW, Standard Chartered and Eskom.
Data from 500 large businesses in South Africa showed 86% had policies and prevention programmes in place, while 65% offered treatment and care to their staff.
Boldrini, however, said. "More needs to be done - AngloGold Ashanti estimates that by 2009 its HIV/Aids - related expenses in South Africa will range from 8% to 17% of total payroll cots.
"AngloGold has a programme in place to deal with this, but what will happen to those who don't?"
Recent UNAids data shows that four countries in sub-Saharan Africa are projected to lose over 30% of their total workforces to HIV/Aids by 2020.
Fourteen countries will see losses of between 10% and 30%.
- I-Net Bridge (Business)
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