Page 33 - 100 years of Anglo American

healthy workforce is linked to
high levels of productivity and
a business’ positive bottom-line
performance. Several studies
have shown this, but they also
A found that healthy employees
are happier and raise healthier families.
This is why Anglo American has one of the
fastest-growing private sector employee HIV
and Aids prevention, care and treatment
programmes. The company has been at the
forefront of the fight against HIV and Aids for
more than 30 years.
Andile Sangqu, executive head of Anglo
American SA, says it’s been a long and
challenging – but worthwhile – journey.
“We cannot say we are there yet, but we are
certainly encouraged by the results of this
programme. Many of our employees know
their HIV status today, and those who are
positive have been put on treatment together
with their dependents, if they also have this
disease,” he says.
“This, for us, is a good achievement because
our employees are our business. They are a
core component of delivering our strategy.”
Anglo American started this journey in 1986,
four years after the first HIV case was
reported in South Africa. Concerned about the Sister Jackie Schoeman checks a patient at the Ulysses Gogi Modise Wellness Clinic in
virus’ rapid spread, the company commissioned Kathu. Opened in December 2007, the clinic services the needs of more than 35 000
the first workplace study in the country to people in the local catchment area
assess HIV prevalence in the mining workforce.
The study was conducted by its former chief
medical officer, Dr Brian Brink, who worked The fight
with Professor Reuben Sher and Dr Lavinia
Clausen. They concluded that the mining
workforce would be at high risk of HIV
infection due to migrant labour and reports of AGAINST
high HIV prevalence in central Africa.
Tens of thousands of mine workers
participated in the survey and out of 18 450
South African mine workers tested for HIV,
only four (0.02%) were HIV-positive, while 119 AIDS
(3.76%) of Malawian mine workers were HIV-
positive and only 0.34% from Botswana tested
positive. By the early 1990s, the HIV infection
rate in the mining industry in South Africa
had increased to 1%, and rose to 25% by 2000.
At the time, antiretroviral treatment (ARV)
was only available to those who could afford Thanks to a proactive approach, thousands of mine
to spend more than R1 000 a month on it, workers’ lives have been saved, writes Zinhle Mapumulo
which meant mine workers were being ravaged
by the virus with no hope of receiving
treatment. Kumba Iron Ore, started with only 15 patients that their efforts are yielding positive results.
Realising the potential catastrophe, Anglo in 2007. Today, it doesn’t only cater for Anglo “It shows you that when you provide a
American started offering free antiretroviral American employees, but provides free and space for people to take responsibility for their
treatment to workers in 2002. Today, voluntary HIV testing, counselling and health and lives, they do it.”
thousands of its employees are benefiting, as treatment for their dependents, contractors But there have been challenges along the
are “their dependents and also the and the residents of the Gamagara Local way from which, Sangqu says, the company
communities where Anglo American is Municipality. Now, more than 1 500 people continues to learn.
operating”, Sangqu says. receive their ARVs from this clinic. “What we know now is that, for our
“Preventing and treating HIV and Aids only Last year, Anglo American made it possible programme to be sustainable, we need to
for our employees would not be enough for almost 90% of its employees to know their continually evolve using evidence from the
because they rely on their dependents for HIV status, and 75 804 employees and latest research,” he says.
support and, if their dependents are taken off contractors were counselled and tested. It also “HIV testing alone is not enough. A well-
treatment, our employees would be affected.” partnered with UNAIDS in support of its structured intervention in the workplace is a
One example of Anglo American’s work in #ProTEST HIV global campaign, a concept that journey. Testing is the start of this journey,
this area is the Ulysses Gogi Modise Wellness promotes the importance of voluntary HIV followed by treatment and care of HIV-positive
Clinic in Kathu in the Northern Cape. The testing. While the effect of the campaign is yet employees. Continually educating employees
clinic, the brainchild of Anglo American’s to be seen, Sangqu says figures are showing about prevention is part of the bigger journey.”
ANGLO AMERICAN 100 YEARS 33