ON World AIDS Day today I would like to remind everyone that health is deeply linked to economic progress. When a country protects its people from long-term illness, it protects its future growth. The conversation about HIV/AIDS and public health should not be limited to medicine and awareness. It should also be linked to productivity, human capital, and the economic cost of inaction.
First, health shocks reduce productivity and labour force participation. A person who faces repeated illness often struggles to remain in stable employment. Repeated illness leads to absenteeism, lower work performance, and a higher chance of job loss. When this pattern repeats across a population, the economy loses valuable workers and valuable time.
