New Best Practices on Women and AIDS

GBC Case Studies Tackle Feminization of the Epidemic

Ten new case studies will highlight the best practices and lessons learned in community outreach, core competency and workplace policy programs of GBC member companies addressing the feminization of AIDS.

Women and girls represent more than half of the 33 million people worldwide who are infected and they bear a disproportionate share of the psychological, economic and social burdens of the epidemic. As a part of the broader effort to engage women on HIV/AIDS issues, GBC’s Healthy Women Healthy Economies initiative has put these cases together to provide a replicable tool for companies seeking further engagement on the feminization of AIDS.

The complete booklet of 10 studies will be available later this month, but summaries of three of the best practices case studies have been made available exclusively here:

Boehringer Ingelheim
Since 2000, Boehringer Ingelheim has provided free access to its single-dose Viramune®, which when used alone or in combination with other drugs, can prevent mother-to-child transmission of the HIV virus during birth. The program has successfully utilized the company’s core competency to engage the feminization of AIDS and as of July 2007 has provided 1,033,685 Mother-Child doses of Viramune®.

Micato Safaris
Over the last two decades, Micato has provided access to basic services such as education and housing to orphaned and vulnerable children and young adults, in order to facilitate sustainable change in the Mukuru slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Through community outreach via its non-profit arm, AmericaShare, Micato has achieved serious results in addressing the feminization of AIDS and empowering HIV-positive women.

SSL International
Widely recognized as one of the most successful social marketing initiatives to promote condoms, SSL’s Program H has responded to the spread of HIV/AIDS by addressing gender equity issues among young men worldwide. While promoting condom-use, the groundbreaking Brazilian program also challenged male attitudes around gender equity and raised awareness of AIDS amongst young men and women.

» Read In Good Company: How Business Fights the Feminization of HIV/AIDS (PDF)

» For more information on other GBC case studies, visit the case studies homepage