Multi-national corporations including Coca-Cola, Shell Oil and Puma are to initiate anti-HIV programmes for their employees in South Africa. The promise of resources comes as a report calls for "much greater participation" by business in stemming the epidemic in the country.
However, the extent of the package to be offered to employees differs sharply between companies. Some, such as the Anglo American mining group are to provide anti-HIV drugs, although others have questioned whether they could or should take this step. The South African government has refused to provide anti-retrovirals, citing concerns over the drugs' effectiveness and cost.
In Botswana, the mining company Debswana is already beginning to provide antiretroviral treatment to employees and family members. The company came to the conclusion that its diamond mining business, which depends on highly trained staff, would collapse unless the company took steps to begin providing treatments. Debswana will cover 90% of the cost of drugs.
Companies are also investigating treatment and prevention of opportunistic infections, as well as HIV testing, condom provision and workplace education programmes.
At a seminar on the economic implications of HIV in South Africa, Brian Brink, a senior vice president at Anglo American which offers a "wellness" programme for its employees with HIV said: "The one short term thing that is going to turn this crisis around is treatment", adding that “the cost of the therapy will be outweighed by the benefits."
An analysis by the merchant bank ING Barings suggests that AIDS will increase the wages bill for companies operating in South Africa 25% by 2005 and 45% by 2010, and that the impact will be most pronounced among workers in the skilled and highly skilled sections of the economy.
The economic case for companies to provide treatments was being made as South African AIDS activists launched a legal bid to force the government to offer nevirapine to pregnant women to limit the chances of HIV transmission from mother to baby. It is estimated that one in nine South Africans is HIV-positive, with 24 per cent of the sexually active population thought to be infected with the virus.
The seminar also coincided with the publication of a report by the Corporate Council on Africa, which represents the largest American companies operating in the continent. The report said that multi-national companies' distribution networks, and large work-forces make them perfect candidates for the dissemination of HIV information and health suppies.
Highlighting "best business practices" for fighting HIV and AIDS the report's recommended first steps include AIDS education for employees and the provision of free, voluntary and confidential HIV testing "as long as it is permitted by the host country." The report said the next step for companies is to assist with anti-HIV messages by following "socially responsible practices".
Robert Hecht of UNAIDS said companies could use their transportation and distribution networks to help provide testing kits and condoms saying: "You go to very remote parts...medicines may not be in health centres, but Coke makes sure its drinks are in small shops."