Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS (ALAFA)

"I am open about my status and I try to tell people that they should also get tested. Some people react badly when I talk to them about HIV and lots of people did not believe me when I said I was HIV positive. I have no problem with encouraging people to use the ALAFA VCT (voluntary counselling and testing) services"
"I was so happy when my baby Thato went for the HIV test and was negative! She is a beautiful, healthy girl. I do not have enough words to thank ALAFA."

The Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight Aids (ALAFA) was researched and implemented by ComMark in partnership with industry stakeholders and provides prevention and treatment services to workers of the Lesotho apparel industry. Currently 32,000 workers are receiving prevention services and close to 20,000 workers have access to treatment. The programme is supported by industrialists, workers, international brands and retailers, the Lesotho government and international donors. The programme also supplies Preventing Mother-To-Child-Transmission (PMTCT) services and will include spouses and dependants in 2009.

Case Studies and Success Stories

To Be Completed

New Project Reports

A private sector response to HIV and AIDS May06

MARK COLVIN, D., LEMMON, G. and JULIAN NAIDOO, D., ComMark and HLSP, May 2006

ComMark, funded by the British Department for International Development (DFID), was established to make commodity and service markets work for the poor in Southern Africa. One of the markets targeted by ComMark was the textile and apparel industry in the region. For a number of years, it has, in partnership with the Lesotho National Development Corporation, provided the apparel industry in Lesotho with technical assistance.

Project announcements

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

ALAFA has been chosen to present its Lesotho HIV Workplace Programme at the XVII International AIDS Conference, 3-8 August 2008, Mexico City

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.