Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Integrated Regional Information Networks - November 28, 2005
JOHANNESBURG, 28 November (PLUSNEWS) - Local and international businesses in Malawi are taking up the baton in the country's struggle against HIV/AIDS by providing free treatment to their employees and tackling stigma.
A coalition of 15 companies in the tobacco, energy and transport sector as well as banks, are working to draw other private sector parties into the workplace anti-AIDS programme.
According to Rose Ng'oma, programme director of the Malawi Business Coalition Against AIDS, the pandemic was affecting industry's most productive members, who fell within the 20-45 age group.
She noted, however, that the biggest challenge for the programme was to break the silence which surrounded the disease. "There is a lot of stigma and discrimination and we want HIV/AIDS to be treated like any other disease," Agence France-Presse quoted Ng'oma as saying.
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