ALAFA chosen to present its Lesotho HIV Workplace Programme at the XVII International AIDS Conference

The Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight Aids (ALAFA) was researched and implemented by ComMark with seed funding from DFID. Within two years of implementation, the programme covers 75% of the 46,000 textile and apparel workforce in Lesotho with its education and prevention programme and 50% of workers currently have access to medical monitoring and treatment with ARVs.

The ALAFA programme is considered to be a leader and innovator in the private sector/workplace response to HIV and AIDS. Dagmar Hanisch, employed by ComMark and who has been largely responsible for the implementation of the programme, submitted an abstract to the governing committee of the XVII International Aids Conference to be held in Mexico in August 2008. This abstract has been accepted for an oral presentation - which is a significant honor considering the enormous number of abstracts submitted.

Dagmar's presentation is titled, ALAFA: implementing a sector-wide comprehensive HIV workplace programme in Lesotho's apparel industry, and will be delivered during the Conference session, Mitigating HIV in the Workplace, on 7 August 2008.