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Xstrata Coal South Africa's HIV/AIDS programme addresses community needs

Xstrata Coal South Africa's HIV/AIDS testing and counselling programme was internationally recognised by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS during its Business Excellence Awards ceremony in Washington DC in September 2005. The work being done at the Breyten health clinic in Mpumalanga Division has also been recognised with the provision of public-private partnership funding from President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) – the first PEPFAR donation made directly to a company.

General Manager Human Resources Piet Henderson said while Xstrata Coal was thrilled with the recognition of the work it had been doing in partnership with local government and NGOs, the company was busy getting on with the job.

"HIV/AIDS is the greatest health crisis in human history; every day 8,500 people die and 13,000 others are newly infected. Around 21 per cent of our workforce in South Africa – that's over 800 employees for Xstrata Coal – have HIV/AIDS," he said.

"We need to continue our counselling and awareness programme to encourage our employees and their families to know their HIV/AIDS status, to undergo voluntary counselling and testing and for all those who tested positive to enrol into our wellness programme which includes anti-retroviral treatment.

"To help us carry out this work, Xstrata Coal South Africa is establishing health clinics in areas where employees and local communities do not have access to primary health care and HIV/AIDS treatment."

In 2005, following extensive consultation with employees, local government, NGOs and the local community, Xstrata Coal South Africa constructed the Breyten health clinic in a refurbished house owned by Spitzkop and Tselentis collieries.

The clinic is currently funded by Xstrata Coal and run by Re-Action! with permission and the full support of the Department of Health. Xstrata Coal South Africa provides a wellness clinic, HIV/AIDS testing and treatment for employees and the wider community, and the community is given access to anti-retroviral treatment through Aurum Health, a local NGO.

Piet said the Breyten clinic had been successfully integrated into the community.

"We have the full support and appreciation of our employees, the community, NGOs, and local and provincial governments because establishing this clinic has been done on a tripartite basis," he said.

With an investment of around ZAR8 million ($1.3 million), Xstrata Coal South Africa will construct a second health clinic at Kwa Guqa in 2006. The company is in the process of setting up a tripartite public-private partnership with the government, Re-Action! and local NGOs, to construct and manage a multi-purpose community centre in the Kwa Guqa community.

This will provide an access point for primary care and treatment for families and will make a significant contribution to the emergency response to the HIV, AIDS and tuberculosis crisis facing the community. The initiative involves extensive consultation and partnership with the local health authority and provincial department of health. Re-Action! will be responsible for the management of the public-private partnership.

"Our ultimate aim is for these clinics to become sustainable beyond Xstrata Coal South Africa's presence in the area," Piet said.