Coca Cola has announced that it is to launch an HIV prevention, education and treatment programme at its bottling companies in Africa. Earlier this year the multinational said it would provide HIV antiretroviral treatments to its 1,500 direct employees in Africa, but not to the 100,000 people working at its bottling sub-contractors, a decision which led to demonstrations outside Coca Cola’s New York headquarters.
The latest decision will see Coca Cola’s bottling companies offering HIV prevention material, voluntary HIV testing and counseling and, where clinically indicated, antiretroviral treatment to employees and their spouses.
The programme will be rolled out over the next two years and will be provided through existing employee health schemes. Coca Cola has said it will shoulder 50% of the cost, the bottling companies 40% and employees 10%.