Are there other illnesses or diseases similar to HIV/AIDS that MNEs should be aware of and design policies for dealing with them? Recently, negotiations for a loan between an East African government and the World Bank were suspended when the high-ranking negotiator for the government died of AIDS. No one else in the country's government could take over the negotiations. No one else had the necessary training, experience, or knowledge of the situation.

The official's death resulted in significant unanticipated delays and suspension of the loan negotiations until other officials could be briefed and readied to continue the discussions with the World Bank. Critical national business and public sector issues and projects were put on hold. In Africa, as well as elsewhere, organizations have to plan for workforce disruptions due to the worldwide AIDS epidemic (as well as other real or possible global pandemics, such as swine and bird flu, SARS, etc.)- All parties need to start understanding HIV and AIDS and other similar diseases as business and HR issues—ones that are local, yes, but also cut across borders, as this case illustrates, and one that can, indeed, impact the "bottom line."