The ComMark Trust, funded by the British Department for International Development (DFID), was established to make commodity and service markets work for the poor in Southern Africa.

One of the markets targeted by ComMark was the textile and apparel industry in the region. For a number of years, it has, in partnership with the Lesotho National Development Corporation, provided the apparel industry in Lesotho with technical assistance.

In 2005, ComMark received funding from DFID to design a strategy to address HIV and AIDS in the industry, and the ALAFA project was born in the course of that process. The contract to study the feasibility of a long-term intervention to address the pandemic among the workforce, their spouses and dependents was awarded to an Edinburgh-based consultancy, HLSP.

The research team found not only that an intervention was feasible, but also that it was vital to the sustainability of the apparel industry. They also found that the industry was combating two of the key long-term drivers of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, namely poverty and gender inequity. Both the business and human case for a long-term intervention were strong.

The Lesotho government, through its Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has launched a wide-ranging programme for combating HIV/AIDS, which is beginning to show results. However, the severity of the pandemic requires all constituencies to work together to address the problem, and build the ministry’s capacity.

The consultants conducted in-depth research into other interventions in the apparel industry. These, while beneficial, were found to be fragmented and under-resourced. The consultants concluded that a more co-ordinated strategic response such as the ALAFA model was required to meet the clinical needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

The consultants examined a number of treatment models both in Lesotho and in the region, and concluded that the most appropriate intervention for the apparel industry in Lesotho would be a network-based model using accredited medical practitioners. This model of treatment would be less disruptive in the workplace, and allow workers to be treated close to their homes or places of work. With the appropriate response, HSLP believes that 1 850 lives could be saved each year in the industry.

Prevention lies at the core of any successful intervention, and the ALAFA programme will use local and regional service providers to educate and protect the workforce. A strong element is to empower all participants in the project to conform to best practice criteria.

ALAFA, as its name implies, is an alliance. Its aim is to be inclusive and to involve government, service providers, industrialists, labour, brands and retailers, funders, donors and multinational organisations in the fight against the pandemic. If this is not done, the long-term sustainability of the industry will be at risk.

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