Because of the effect of HIV/Aids on a company’s workforce, corporate social responsibility programmes benefit not only local communities, but also the company’s bottom line.
The SA Business Coalition against HIV/Aids, or Sabcoha, says that more than 90% of people with HIV/Aids are workers, managers or employers. Sabcoha says that, according to the International Labour Organisation, as many as 36-million of the 39-million people living with HIV are engaged in some form of productive activity. Providing care and treatment for HIV-positive employees can reduce the financial burden of the disease by as much as 40%. DaimlerChrysler, says Sabcoha, found that, depending on job level, the company saved between R170Â 000 and R1,9-million by preventing new infections among its South African workforce.
But not all companies are equally able to take action on HIV/Aids, and this is where organisations like Sabcoha come in. Sabcoha is made up of 107 members (43 corporates, nine large companies and 54 service providers and small companies). It aims to coordinate a private sector response to the disease.
“The organised business environment offers a unique opportunity to target the millions of employees affected by the pandemic,” the organisation’s website says. Sabcoha researches and develops best practice models, pioneers new business initiatives, communicates key information and lobbies for change. An HIV/Aids Workplace Toolkit, aimed at small businesses, has been developed.
To examine how the different programmes work, a look at AngloPlat’s programme is instructive. The company has constructed a good model for corporate Aids programmes. The mine has both workplace programmes and community outreach projects.
Peer education has been identified as an important factor in the success of awareness programmes. AngloPlat uses peer educators to educate people on and off-site.
Its workplace programme aims to limit new infections among employees and their families, provides counselling and support services to employees living with HIV or Aids and encourages them to take antiretroviral therapy (ART). The programme also aims to protect and respect the rights of employees with HIV or Aids and provides education on the disease.
The Circle of Hope Community Project, initiated in July 2002, is a large-scale community HIV and Aids intervention programme aimed at minimising the total effect of HIV/Aids on AngloPlat stakeholders. Circle of Hope operates in communities around AngloPlat’s operations and aims to support, align and contribute towards a partnership with local and district government, NGOs, traditional health practitioners and traditional leaders.
The project operates in a 50km radius and includes activities in Rustenburg and Moses Kotane local municipalities, North West province and Thabazimbi, Magalakwena, Greater Sekhukhune and Polokwane in Limpopo. The project is being extended into the King Sabata Dalindyebo and Nyandeni local municipalities of the Eastern Cape, initially in the form of care and support in these labour-sending areas.
Last year the programme focused on developing and supporting community outreach programmes in home-based care and peer education. Nearly 200 community members, working as unskilled but voluntary home-based caregivers, began ancillary health worker training.
Open days were held in these communities to improve health-seeking behaviour, treatment adherence and the development of public- private partnerships. Information and education reached 3Â 000 people, with 500 receiving counselling and 150 opting for testing and screening.
The home-based care programme is being extended to cater for former mine workers and their families, as well as the broader community in King Sabata and Nyandeni local municipalities of the OR Tambo district municipality. As part of the programme 23 previously disadvantaged community members completed the ancillary health workers’ programme.
Through Pepfar (the President’s Emergency Provision For Aids Relief) funding, several doctors are now providing ART in areas around Anglo Platinum’s operations and this is being expanded to meet the needs of spouses, contractors and the broader community. Doctors from historically disadvantaged communities are sponsored by the group to train in the provision of antiretroviral therapy. They also conduct treatment and wellness sessions at AngloPlat clinics.