Assessing costs and financing to control AIDS

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Public health expenditure for the prevention of AIDS and the treatment of AIDS cases is estimated to cost the developing countries around US$ 1,000 million annually. Agenda 21 suggests that international financial support should cover about US$ 300 million of this, including global and regional institutions and programmes.

During proceedings for flotation of a South African mining company on the London Stock Exchange in 1997, investors were warned that the potential impact of the increase in the incidence of HIV infection among the workforce is resulting in significant extra costs through the provision of healthcare. It is the same throughout Africa. In Botswana, for example, citizens between 15 and 49 years old account for 89% of all reported cases of HIV.