Anti-AIDS Business Coalitions From 14 African Countries Meet in Zambia

Anti-AIDS business groups from 14 African countries last week met in Zambia to discuss ways to further the private sector's role in combating HIV/AIDS in the workplace, according to a World Economic Forum release. The World Economic Forum's Global Health Initiative, the World Bank and UNAIDS brought together representatives from Botswana, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda. About 19 million, or 44%, of the world's 42 million HIV-positive people live in those countries. The business coalitions have been formed over the past few years to gather and share corporate best practices, carry out business-to-business awareness and advocacy campaigns, prepare the private sector to help fight AIDS and work with local governmental agencies, as well as local and international nongovernmental organizations. The coalitions shared strategies, pooled best practices and attempted to build a public-private partnership in the region, according to the release. Elizabeth Ashbourne of the World Bank said, "This meeting marks the beginning of a coordinated effort between the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and other donor agencies to ensure that we harness the core competencies of the private sector in the battle against HIV/AIDS" (World Economic Forum Release, 7/18).

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