Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - Sunday, November 30, 2003
Citing results of an opinion survey among executives, the WEF said it showed business was not yet playing a significant role in fighting the disease which the United Nations says has infected five million new victims this year.
Further, even company chiefs who expressed concern about the present and future impact of AIDS on their businesses and the communities they serve had generally failed to implement measures to counter the menace, it added.
The WEF, which has its headquarters in Geneva, organizes the an annual gathering of top business and political figures in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos. The survey was issued to coincide with World AIDS Day.
According to estimates from the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 40 million adults are living with HIV/AIDS all over the world, of whom an estimated 26.6 million are in sub-Saharan Africa.
Of nearly 8,000 firms surveyed in 103 countries, the WEF said, only 21 percent felt that HIV/AIDS would have a severe impact on their business, while 47 percent felt it would have "some impact."
The danger-awareness figures were much lower in countries not yet badly hit by the disease.
In sub-Saharan Africa, which the United Nations says is the worst-hit region, 89 percent of firms thought it would have some negative effect on their business, while in the Middle East and North Africa the figure dropped to 33 percent.
Even among firms with formal policies on the issue, some 25 percent may demand employees or prospective employees reveal if they have the disease and do not specifically prohibit barring job offers to HIV/AIDS sufferers.
Some 22 percent do not ban discrimination against victims of the disease when promotions, pay increases and increased benefits are being considered -- all in contradiction to standards set by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
In a comment to be issued with the full report, UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said the survey showed the huge size of the task facing campaigners in heightening perceptions of the menace to global economic and social stability.
The threat was not only to sub-Saharan Africa, and the survey's results highlighted "the urgent need for businesses in other parts of the world, particularly in Asia, to take action now," Piot declared.
031130
RE031137
Copyright © 2003 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2003. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2003. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .