Chris Moraitis
A 1.3 PERCENT DROP IN GDP, A 12.5 PERcent reduction in the workforce and a cost to the economy of A$1.5 billion: these are the projected worst-case macroeconomic effects of HIV/AIDS on PNG. 

This potential to erode economic and development gains is a side of HIV/AIDS which is not often recognised.

But in Port Moresby, the PNG business community is coming together to form a powerful coalition to fight back against this erosion.

The launch of the PNG Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS marks an important step in the country’s mounting effort to combat an epidemic which is steadily spreading and now stands amongst the worst in the Asia Pacific region.

The estimated number of people infected in PNG is now about 64,000 or one percent of the total population and is still rising. 

The PNG Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS is a not for profit organisation whose members include peak bodies in the employer, manufacturing, mines and petroleum and industry, superannuation and legal sectors.  Over the coming months the coalition, supported closely by PNG Health Minister Sir Peter Barter, will develop a client service arm to respond to queries about HIV/AIDS, develop a business case for HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness and work with employers to develop sound HIV/AIDS workplace policies

The coalition has been established with the support of the Asia Pacific Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS which is an initiative I launched with President Bill Clinton  just under a year ago. The coalition involves a number of leading Australian companies with significant business interests throughout the Asia Pacific. It encourages and supports the development of national coalitions around the region which can intensify the huge effort that’s needed by governments and business to beat HIV/AIDS.

Companies such as QANTAS, Price Waterhouse Coopers, News Ltd, BHP Billton, Deacons and many others have committed time and resources to support this fight by businesses against HIV/AIDS.

Leading this fight are two eminent Australian businesspeople—QANTAS chair, Margaret Jackson, who also chairs the board of the Asia Pacific Business Coalition, and deputy chair, Lachlan Murdoch. They were joined at the launch in PNG by Australian swimmer, Ian Thorpe, and PNG ‘s Commonwealth gold medallist, Ryan Pini.

The need for business involvement in tackling HIV is underscored by the fact that this disease targets the most productive segment of a society—its workers.

A study by the Asian Development Bank found that estimated economic losses from HIV/AIDS in the Asia Pacific in 2001 amounted to $10 billion. If efforts to slow the pace of HIV are unsuccessful, annual financial losses could reach close to $24 billion by 2010.

The worse case economic impact on PNG by 2025 is paralleled by a tragic demographic impact amounting to about 400,000 adults dying of AIDS-related illness in the same period, leaving behind 117,000 orphans.

The sobering reality is that the business community stands to lose much if the spread of HIV continues at the present rate. Absenteeism, staff replacement and training all incur costs.

Workplace morale suffers. Personal savings and asset holdings decline. Fewer goods and services are purchased. The economic snowballing effect continues in a downward spiral.

A child whose parents have HIV is less likely to attend school and will end up in a poorly paid job. Instead of being lifted out of poverty, families sink deeper into it. They contribute less to the common pool of wealth.

Australia’ s strong economic performance in recent years is directly linked to the sustained growth of our markets in the Asia Pacific. If these same markets are weakened through HIV, Australian businesses will not be immune.

Fortunately, as we see in Papua New Guinea, many businesses recognise the looming threat and are rising to meet it. They are using their influence in the workplace to take action to help employees protect themselves from the virus. Another body, the Clinton Foundation, is providing practical assistance with the procurement of anti-retroviral treatments, supply chains and the strengthening of health systems in many countries.

The Australian Government’s aid agency, AusAID is working in conjunction with the Clinton Foundation and public health authorities in Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and China to scale-up treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The contribution of small business in the battle against HIV is just as important. The business education programme BizAIDS, which incorporates HIV education into its general business training for small enterprises, recently held a pilot programme in Kokopo, Gela Gela and Rabaul in Papua New Guinea.
It was the first time many of the participants had received accurate information about the virus, including the dispelling of the myth that HIV is carried by mosquitoes.

The Australian Government is a leader against HIV in the Asia Pacific region. It has committed $600 million towards HIV prevention and treatment programmes.

Our successful response to the virus domestically over the past 25 years has helped inform our support for nearby countries that are yet to subdue the virus. But governments can not do it all.

Business has the wherewithal to influence its employees, its partners and its customers.

It has expertise in selling products, spreading knowledge and in shaping attitudes and behaviour. Together, business and government can create a formidable opposition to this pernicious disease.

.• Chris Moraitis is Australia’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.