Southern African countries could improve GDPs through fiscal policies on HIV treatment

Apr 27 2012

"Southern African governments could use public spending in their battle against the extremely high rates of HIV/AIDS in their countries and still achieve a positive economic impact, argues a new paper [.pdf] from the African Development Bank (AfDB)," an AfDB press release states. The paper, titled "The Role of Fiscal Policy in Tackling the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Southern Africa," examines the cases of Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland, which have the highest adult HIV prevalence in the world, and says these countries could increase productivity and gross domestic product (GDP) through "[g]overnment fiscal action on HIV/AIDS treatment," according to the press release. "Acting optimally, the debt burden of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland could be alleviated by five percent, one percent and 13 percent of GDP respectively, says the report," the press release states (4/25).