Namibia : Selected Development Impact of HIV/AIDS
The report aims at providing an overview of selected, likely development impact of HIV/AIDS in the light of existing data. It was initiated as an exercise to assist policy makers in Namibia, in their effort to incorporate HIV/AIDS into the planning...
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| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
Washington, DC
2013
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2001/04/1096670/namibia-selected-development-impact-hivaids http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15697 |
| Summary: | The report aims at providing an overview
of selected, likely development impact of HIV/AIDS in the
light of existing data. It was initiated as an exercise to
assist policy makers in Namibia, in their effort to
incorporate HIV/AIDS into the planning process on a regular
basis. However, due to data limitations, the review at this
stage does not provide detailed costing of the impact of
HIV/AIDS on various sectors of the economy, thus, subsequent
analysis should focus on detailed costing, and policy design
alternatives. It analyzes the nature of the epidemic, and
its likely impact, by examining the demographic consequences
as a first step in making a comprehensive assessment,
through spectrum models with comparative reference to the
results generated by other studies. Conclusions imply that
the primary impact of the epidemic could be in the reduction
of life expectancy at birth, for although AIDS reduces the
population growth, it does so in perverse ways, affecting
the labor force in the form of skill shortages for the
country. Moreover from the macroeconomic perspective, the
epidemic is likely to affect the savings/investment
relation, to the extent that the lack of skilled labor, and
profitability in the private sector, will adversely impact
economic growth. Responding to the epidemic requires ongoing
public, donor, and private activities to mitigate its
impact, and, suggestions include political will, societal
openness to fight against the stigma, social policy reform
to reduce vulnerability, and multi-sectoral action at
various levels. |
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