HIV-infected households in the country spend 400 per cent more than the non-affected households on medical expenses and HIV infections reduce incomes by as much as 10 per cent, according to a study.
It meant that the expenses on tackling HIV make a huge impact on the income, provisions for other needs including the education in the families, said a recent study on the Socio-Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS on Households, by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
The impact was also found especially severe on those engaged in agricultural labour. This is on account of job losses or leave of absence for people living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers, according to the study presented by NCAER director general Suman Bery at a recent CII meet here.
Two-thirds of households surveyed, and 77 per cent of those in agriculture labour, suffered this loss of income. In addition, unemployment among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) increased to 9.8 per cent from 3.6 per cent between the time they were tested and surveyed. HIV/AIDS also increases the workload on the elderly and girl children, said Dr. Bery.
HIV households spend 400 per cent more than non-HIV households on medical expenses and have a lower per-capita outlay on education. The survey indicates that HIV reduced the ability of households to deal with emergencies and their savings rates are lower than non-HIV households; they also keep more savings in liquid assets. The NCAER survey also shows that HIV households are higher borrowers than non-HIV ones, with 46 per cent having taken a loan in the past one year; this is nearly twice the number of non-HIV households.
Alarmed by the situation, CII has designed an HIV/AIDS policy for the industry to focus on building awareness, non-discrimination and job security, CII chief mentor announced. About 700 companies have assured their commitment to the policy. CII also facilitates prevention, care and treatment programmes both within companies and in their neighbouring communities. More than 2000 companies, under CII and IBT's guidance, have already started HIV in the Workplace programmes.
Dr. Bery said that this can impact the overall savings rate in India as the prevalence of HIV/AIDS grows. "HIV/AIDS can significantly detract from India's demographic dividend."
He suggested that companies need to find ways to persuade employees to reveal their HIV status. This is possible if companies assure their employees that there will be no discrimination or loss of employment, are educated about the disease and work with vendors, suppliers and neighbouring communities to raise awareness about the disease.
The corporate sector is concerned about HIV/AIDS because the highest number of infections is among those in the productive age group of 15-19 years, said Co-Chairman and Managing Director of Jubilant Organosys, Hari Bhartia. He reiterated that companies can contribute to checking the spread of HIV/AIDS by implementing and AIDS in the Workplace programme, raising awareness among their vendors, suppliers, truckers and the immediate communities.
The focus of the consultation was to initiate a sustained workplace intervention by companies which would lead to confidence amongst employees to come forward and access services of testing and treatment, creation of effective mechanisms such as peer educators, counselling services, referral linkages etc., encouraging companies to use their core competencies to partner national response to HIV/AIDS. CII began its workplace programme 10 years ago and has been working in this area in partnership with the government and other agencies.