Community
Any public health risk that may impact our workforce, their families or local community is of concern to us. Most often the risk comes from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. We work with communities, public health authorities and other stakeholders to improve education, protection and prevention of public health risks and widespread disease.
In 2007, our coal operation in South Africa formed a Public Private Mix (PPM) with the government of the Mpumalanga province, non-governmental organisations and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The PPM builds on our workplace wellness, occupational health and safety services to strengthen community health systems.
The PPM programme faced a number of health challenges, such as:
- high levels of migrant labour working in remote locations
- a widely dispersed population making access to health services a challenge
- approximately one in four adults living with HIV
It began by specifically targeting the treatment of HIV and AIDS and TB, building capacity and supporting infrastructure in local clinics and hospitals to increase access to HIV, AIDS and TB services.
The PPM accredits community-based clinics as anti-retroviral sites, which allows HIV positive patients to be cared for in their communities. The PPM has also put together a team of community outreach workers who visit people at home to carry out voluntary testing and health assessments.
In 2008, our role in the PPM was internationally recognised when we received the inaugural Business Excellence Award for Expanded Community Programmes by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (GBC).
