ALAFA Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS

ALAFA was established in 2006 as a public-private partnership between industry and government to combat the potentially detrimental effects of Lesotho’s HIV epidemic on the country’s textile and apparel industry. ALAFA delivers a highly innovative healthcare in the workplace program that has been recognised nationally and internationally as a partnership model of best practice.In an industry where 2 out of every 5 workers are HIV positive, ALAFA’s interventions have significantly improved workers’ health and lifestyle, decreased absenteeism and enhanced productivity.

The future of this industry is critical to Lesotho’s economic development. In 2012, the 39 apparel factories and one textile mill that make up this industry exported over $US241m in goods to the US and were responsible for generating almost $1 in every $9 of national GDP. ALAFA’s ultimate vision is of a globally competitive sector; employing a workforce free from the threat of HIV that is driving economic sustainability in the mountain kingdom. Underpinned by the belief that a healthy workforce is a productive one, ALAFA works to ensure that all workers have direct access to world-class health services at their place of work.