| dc.description.abstract | Over 25 million workers worldwide are infected with HIV, and millions more are
affected by the epidemic. The epidemic cuts the supply of labour, with a resulting loss of
skills, training and experience. At the same time, labour costs are rising due to sickness
and absenteeism. As a result, enterprises are losing productivity, public and private
investment is being cut, and employment opportunities are contracting, with an increase
in precarious/informal activities and growing poverty.
This project paper examined the effects of HIV/AIDS on the development of the Micro
and Small Enterprise sector. The paper looks at the effects of HIV/AIDS on output and
inputs of a business as well as the effects on management practices. The objectives of the
study were to examine the effects of HIV/AIDS, to determine how the pandemic
influences the inputs, outputs and firm production, and to outline interventions necessary.
The hypotheses for the study stated that HIV/AIDS affects negatively all the above, ie
inputs, outputs and firm production.
The analysis indicates that the HIV/AIDS scourge has seriously affected the outputs and
inputs of firms. Markets are also affected because the purchasing power of the population
has declined, as the epidemic ravages on. In declining health, the entrepreneurs may also
not be in a position to carry out extensive marketing of their products. HIV/AIDS affects
firms' production practices. HIV /AIDS affects management issues. This is especially
seen when time is diverted to care for sick family members. It has emerged that
absenteeism costs businesses a lot. Time management is non - existent and many man-hours are diverted because of HIV/AIDS.
The paper has made various recommendations to deal with the aggravating effects of
HIV/AIDS. Among them include educating these entrepreneurs on safe sex issues, and
providing an appropriate health care and social support system. The government should
also make provisions for the care and for the future survival of families that have been
affected by the pandemic. Lastly, those entrepreneurs that are taking care of orphans and other dependants made so by AIDS should be given all the necessary help so that they do not unnecessarily eat into their enterprises, running them down. | en |
