HIV/AIDS in the Workplace - A Case for Diversity and Inclusion [Новость добавлена - 02.12.2008]

Nov. 26, 2008 By Mabel Wong

1st December 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. The 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic confirms that the world is making some real progress in its response to AIDS. It further reaffirms that Governments are acting on their promises at the 2006 United Nations High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. In more and more countries now, HIV infection levels are falling.

Situation in Asia and in the Workplace
Seemingly positive, the latest UNAIDS report however also indicates that the epidemic is not yet over in any part of the world. UNAIDS and WHO estimates that in 2007 nearly five million people are living with HIV in Asia, with 440,000 people who became newly infected in that year. If the current rate of transmission continues, an additional eight million people will become newly infected by 2020.

According to a study conducted by independent Commission on AIDS in Asia, HIV-related stigma and discrimination undermine Asias’ responses to the epidemic, preventing people from using a range of important services like HIV counselling and testing services. Discrimination against people living with HIV affects their access to employment, housing, insurance, social services, education, health, and inheritance rights for women and men. The study goes on to add that even though the epidemic’s impact on Asian businesses may not be as damaging as in some African countries, failing prevention programmes will affect them in the form of rising medical expenditures, insurance payments, staff retraining costs and productivity losses.

© CSR Asia

For full article, visit:
http://csr-asia.com/weekly_detail.php?id=11544