Global impact of aids on work

Abstract

AIDS is not likely to have a major impact on work in western Europe and North America, but it is already having a huge impact in sub-Saharan Africa and this is going to get much worse. This reflects the fact that the brunt of the AIDS epidemic is being experienced in sub-Saharan Africa, and AIDS will kill a sizeable section of the working population in this region in the next 20 years. The agricultural sector will suffer badly, as will businesses in general, and this will have devastating effects on the economy of countries that are already among the poorest in the world. Workplace based interventions could have some impact on reducing the rate of increase of HIV infection among employees. More general actions to reduce HIV transmission, to reduce poverty, and to improve health care systems in affected countries are urgently needed to tackle the unfolding tragedy of the AIDS epidemic.