The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has organised a roundtable discussion with the Private Sector to identify gaps, opportunities, HIV workplace policy, HIV/AIDS Anti-Stigma Law and the need to optimise HIV-related service delivery in the State.
Addressing participants at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, LSACA, Dr. (Mrs.) Monsurat Adeleke observed that the private sector adopted three strategies to reduce the HIV burden among their workforce, such as ‘investing in HIV prevention, Care and Treatment Services’, ‘the sensitisation and training of staff on HIV prevention’ and ‘the shifting of the burden to the public sector, NGOs and individual households.
Dr. Adeleke disclosed that since the current National and State response plan is a multidimensional approach, it is necessary to institute a more productive effort between the State government and the private sector in order to plan and implement a sustained response that would contribute to the overall State and National efforts.
According to her, the impact of HIV and AIDS is complex and multi-dimensional as it could have a substantial negative influence on organisational productivity, short and long-term business costs, consumption rates, profits, investments business contact and the quality of essential services, among other factors.
She maintained that the apathetic attitude of critical stakeholders to the HIV scourge would only make matters worse, hence the need for an increased engagement and participation of the private sector in the space of HIV/AIDS response in the State.