THE involvement of business sector in the fight against spread of HIV/AIDS, ignorance and discrimination is necessary, says Steven Vete, UNAIDS Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV and development sub-regional coordinator.
Mr Vete made the statement at the signing of a partnership agreement yesterday between the Fiji-Australia Business Council and UNAIDS to work together to form a Fiji business coalition on HIV/AIDS to strengthen the response of the private sector. Through the agreement Australia will spend $188 million in 2008/09 on programs to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. At the signing Mr Vete said the agreement was vital because HIV prevention programs at the workplace would help to improve the welfare of the workers and their families.
"The involvement of private sector leaders is crucial if we are to succeed in reversing the tide of HIV in the Pacific. It is crucial for a number of reasons: At the global level, nine out of ten people living with HIV are adults in their most productive years. Two out of three people living with HIV go to work everyday. In the Pacific the majority of the people infected with HIV are between 15 and 44 years, meaning the loss of breadwinner is devastating for the family,' said Mr Vete.
President of the Fiji Australia Business Council Caz Tebutt Dennis said business had an important role to play in the increasingly multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS.
Mr Proctor said Australia was a strong advocate for businesses taking an active role in preventing the impact of HIV/AIDS. In Fiji there are currently 256 confirmed cases of HIV which is a significant increase from the 182 reported cases in December 2004.
