Businesses battle HIV

A business in South Africa has been recognised for its pioneering work in combating HIV, TB and malaria.

Anglo American Coal South Africa has won the Global Business Coalition (GBC) Award for the best International Workplace HIV and Aids Programme.

Anglo Coal has indicated that 1,300 of its 9,300 staff in South Africa are living with HIV.

The firm actively promotes regular testing for its employees, with managers taking public tests to encourage others to get treatment.

In addition, a free HIV management programme is offered, which has helped to contribute to the number of new infections in the workforce decreasing by 50 per cent since 2005.

GBC president and chief executive John Tedstrom said: "The fight against HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, and malaria cannot be won without the corporate sector stepping up and playing an active role - and Anglo American and, specifically, its Anglo Coal division is doing exactly the kind of thing that all companies can and should do."

Representatives from UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation and the Global Fund will be present when the award is presented tonight (June 24th).

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