FHI Jordan Convenes Private Sector Roundtable

 

MARCH 2006 — FHI coordinated the first meeting in Jordan to examine the role of the private sector in the Jordanian national response to HIV/AIDS. Business and labor union leaders learned about the HIV/AIDS situation, the proposed National Strategy, and how businesses in other parts of the world have responded. Participants were given an opportunity to dialogue with leaders from Jordan's National AIDS Program, and local non-governmental organizations implementing workplace interventions.

 

Around the world businesses in hard hit regions are challenged to manage the increased costs, decreased productivity and reduction in markets that AIDS can bring. In the worst affected countries, the ILO has calculated a potential workforce loss of between 10 and 30 percent by the year 2020. In many high prevalence countries, the private sector has become a critical partner in national responses as they realize the economic benefit of keeping already infected workers healthy and preventing the further spread of the disease.

With only 435 reported cases of people living with HIV/AIDS, Jordan is classified as a low prevalence country, and the National Strategy has set the overall goal of maintaining low HIV prevalence among the population and all vulnerable sub-populations.  Four strategic objectives have been established to achieve that goal: 1) collect, analyze and use strategic information relating to the spread of HIV/AIDS and the national response to the epidemic in Jordan; 2) prevent transmission of HIV; 3) provide care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS; and 4) create an enabling environment in which an effective national response to HIV/AIDS can take place.

The 37 participants discussed their willingness to address HIV/AIDS in their workplaces and to participate in the national response. FHI Jordan will summarize recommendations generated by the session for consideration by the National AIDS Program, and will identify key areas for further technical assistance to the private sector.

 

PHOTO: FHI Country Director Dr. Basma Khraisat (L) opened the session with Dr. Ali Asa'd, Secretary General for Technical Affairs from the Ministry of Health (center) and Dr. Salwa Bitar from USAID (R).