Fight against HIV :

Private sector plays pivotal role

HIV may be at a low level in Sri Lanka with little cause for concern but latest statistics on HIV reveals 3,000 known cases with several gaps and lapses in information collection due to testing and counselling being voluntary and not mandatory. However, and as revealed in the UN General Assembly Session(UNGASS) on HIV/AIDs’ country progress report on Sri Lanka, over the years a gradual increase in the number of HIV positive cases have shown up which if not contained could be a cause of consternation. Enlisting themselves into an organization called Lanka Business Coalition for HIV/AIDS, sixty four of Sri Lanka’s top corporates joined forces to provide advocacy and leadership to counter HIV.

Since its inception in 2007, the coalition has played a pivotal role and done some exemplary work in building momentum in the fight against AIDS. The Annual General Meeting to be held on July 15 will see the coalition’s membership of Sri Lanka’s blue chip and other top ranking companies take the effort to a new level, setting guidelines and standards for pooling of resources and generating maximum awareness to counter the AIDs spread.

The Asia Pacific Business Coalition for HIV, Chief Executive, Stephen Grant will be guest of honour and keynote speaker at the July 15 AGM, which will also be a platform for presentation of the recently finalized Sri Lanka HIV policy update.

“Government and non-profits can’t do it alone” said John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation Director and incumbent chairman of the coalition Lallith Ramanayake. “The private sector needs to grasp the scale of the problem and step up to avert a possible tragedy” he said. John Keells was one of few companies that seized the opportunity to conduct several AIDS awareness programs within their subsidiaries and launch a work place policy on HIV/AIDS.