Barcelona 2013
Menu
AIDSImpact.com
Conference Details
Authors
International Committee
Plenary Speakers
Presenting Speakers
Programme
Sessions
Scientific Committee
Acknowledgements
| Abstract #221 - Health Care Provision | ||||
|
Session: 33.6: Health Care Provision (Parallel) on Tuesday @ 14.30-16.00 in Teatre Chaired by Araceli Rousaud, Sheana Bull Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Gavin George - University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
||||
| Additional Authors: Sra. Rosa de Dios, Sra. Lourdes Mestres, Sra. Alicia Lluva, | ||||
| Aim: South Africa's economic prospects depend on the productivity of its labour, and productivity can only be maximised when the labour force possess the appropriate skills. Business are playing their part by offering training opportunities to employees, and are spending more than the government's mandated level on training. However, the HIV and AIDS epidemic is eroding this investment in southern Africa where the HIV epidemic is at its worst. While there has been empirical work that provides estimates on the cost of HIV and AIDS to business, there is very little data on the actual amounts large companies spend on training, and how much of this investment is eroded as a result of HIV and AIDS deaths.The aim of the study is to estimate the financial losses associated with the investment in training as a result of HIV and AIDS deaths. | ||||
| Method / Issue: A total of 150 companies were surveyed which included the top 100 listed companies on the Johanesburg Stock Exchange, and the top 25 unlisted companies. Other than state owned entities (SOEs), the respondents were organised into sectors in terms of the standard industry classification codes. This categorisation was as follows: manufacturing, community and personal social services, mining, financial, construction, wholesale and retail, and SOEs. The companies were then further analysed according to size: greater than 10,000 employees, between 2,000 and 10,000 employees, and less than 2,000 employees.Using an estimate of the HIV and AIDS death rate in the private sector and survey data which identifies training expenditure by sector, the authors estimate the extent to which HIV and AIDS has potentially eroded this investment. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The loss for all sectors was estimated at almost R10 million (R9,871,732) during the study year, which equates to USD 1,183,661 per annum. This amount represented on average 0.73% of the actual investment in training. The real costs of HIV and AIDS on business, which includes absenteeism, declining productivity and other costs are difficult to quantify, but they are likely to significantly exceed this lost training investment as a result of AIDS deaths. | ||||
| Discussion: It is therefore in a company's best interest to: (1) ensure that a sound HIV and AIDS policy is in place; (2) invest in high-quality prevention campaigns; and (3) provide the appropriate ARV treatment to infected employees if this treatment is not easily accessible through the public health sector. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||