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Introduction Strategy

ICA Strategy to Fight HIV/AIDS

ICA Strategy Logo (What is HIV/AIDS? AIDS stands for "acquired immune deficiency syndrome". HIV stands for the "human immuno-deficiency virus". HIV is a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system, and destroys or impairs their function. HIV infection results in the progressive depletion of the immune system, leading to "immune deficiency".)

Rationale

 HIV/AIDS is negatively impacting the capacity of co-operatives to be economically and socially effective organisations. Co-operatives as enterprises are being challenged as they cope with the financial and psychological consequences of the death and illness of their members, leaders, and employees. They must sustain absenteeism of their employees as they fall ill, care for the sick or attend funerals; accept low levels of participation in the governance of co-operatives as members and leaders deal with HIV/AIDS; and cope with the loss of skills and expertise. The consequences are lower productivity, loss of income with increased costs for healthcare, and thus reduced savings and investments both for the co-operative itself, and for individual members and employees as well as people in the communities in which co-operatives operate.

HIV/AIDS is no longer only a health issue, but a development issue impacting all countries and having serious implications for today and the future. It also for this reason that stopping and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS is one of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.

ICA has begun addressing the issue on a regional basis at the request of members especially in East, Central and Southern Africa and in the Asia-Pacific region, however, given the scope of the problem, ICA could take a more globally proactive role to promote awareness and sensitise members on HIV/AIDS, its impact on co-operatives and their communities, and ways in which they could address prevention as well as care and support for those infected. This would put into practice the 7th ICA Principle of Concern for Community, but also ensure that co-operatives continue to be effective economic and social organisations.

The Co-operative Movement has the potential to reach a large section of society around the world and help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as provide care and support to those already infected. The ICA through its member network has the capacity to reach over 760 million individuals. With significant membership in nearly 100 countries, ICA could undertake a more systematic programme to raise awareness encouraging co-operatives around the world to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic within their own organisations and the communities which they serve.

AIDS Table The global HIV/AIDS epidemic killed more than 3 million people in 2003 alone and an estimated 5 million acquired HIV. 40 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS around the world of which 2.5 million are children under the age of 15.

The age group most affected by HIV/AIDS are those between 15-49 years of age, i.e. women and men who are in their most productive years of life.

Africa is the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, with 29 million cases and a life expectancy level down to 47 years from 66 years before the AIDS took hold, but HIV/AIDS is found in all regions of the world. India has the second largest number of HIV/AIDS cases with nearly 5 million people and there are emerging epidemics in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam to name only a few. Eastern Europe and Central Asia are also seeing explosive growth rates especially in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). In Latin America and the Caribbean the epidemic is long established with some of the highest prevalence rates after those of South Africa, and India. The Caribbean countries and Central America are the hardest hit. High income countries in Western Europe and the United States too are seeing infection rates increase through heterosexual transmission. Almost one third of the new HIV infections in 2000 in the USA were among women.

Source: AIDS Epidemic Update published by UNAIDS and WHO

Aim:

The Strategy aims to accelerate a response to the HIV/AIDS epidemics through strengthening prevention and impact mitigation. Implementation would be undertaken at both the global, regional and sectoral levels.

Actions:

Awareness-raising

  • Disseminate of information and existing materials in appropriate languages (ex. Workplace action on HIV/AIDS published by ILO AIDS; Resource Packet on Gender and AIDS published by UNAIDS, etc.)
  • Organise sensitisation seminars and workshops at regional and national levels for co-operative leaders and decision-makers
  • Encourage sectoral organisations to address the issue with seminars and studies at global and regional levels
  • Include HIV/AIDS awareness components in existing ICA training programmes and activities and where possible linked to promoting gender equality

Capacity Building

  • Organise training of trainers programmes to enable existing co-operative training personnel and institutions to effectively provide information to members and employees of co-operatives
  • Promote healthcare and appropriate treatment

Good Practice

  • Collect and make available materials that have already been developed by co-operatives who are dealing with the HIV/AIDS issue
  • Adapt existing materials to the co-operative movement at regional and national level

Networking

  • Seek partners at the global, regional and national levels to work with the co-operative movement in combating HIV/AIDS as well as in the care and support of its victims
  • Encourage national movements to seek out national and local partners for the implementation and support of activities

Demonstrate ICA Political Commitment

  • Create sufficient awareness and support within the ICA in order to enable the Board to propose a resolution for adoption at the ICA General Assembly in Cartagena in 2005 on HIV/AIDS which would demonstrate its real commitment to fight HIV/AIDS.

Last Updated: 21 July 2005

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