CASE STUDY
Lonmin puts AIDS in the firing line
Lonmin’s South African platinum mining operations have embarked on a “Wellness” initiative to address the stigma associated with HIV infection and AIDS. The initiative is personally supported by both CEO Brad Mills and President of the Platinum operations, Alistair Ross and forms an integral part of the company’s corporate HIV/AIDS program. Current estimates indicate that around one in every four Lonmin employees is HIV positive.
The Wellness initiative was the brainchild of Lonmin’s medical services team and is designed to make people aware that HIV and AIDS are treatable but serious illnesses. It also aims to encourage people to know their health status, to engage employees and communities in their fight against Aids and to encourage acceptance of and support for work colleagues on Aids treatment.
The initiative takes the form of regular Wellness events where trained medical staff, together with trade union and management representatives, offer staff health information and counselling in a relaxed environment linked to sports and culture events. A recent Wellness day was attended by 7,000 people and featured a performance by South African gospel star Rebecca Malope.
Employees and community members who attend the Wellness events can test their HIV status and, if they wish, have blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes tests as well. Most of the tests on offer are rapid screen tests and the results are available within minutes. If abnormalities are detected then onsite counselling is offered and those tested are referred for further tests or treatment.
The program has been extremely successful in increasing the number of employees coming forward for testing. It includes free lifetime antiretroviral treatment for any employee who would benefit and currently over 500 people are being treated, with the majority leading healthy lives and continuing to work normally.
CASE STUDY DETAILS
- Published
- 03 October 2006
- Company
-
Lonmin
- Location
-
Africa
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Good Practice Guidance on Health Impact Assessment
Read more
Download PDF
-
Good Practice Guidance on Occupational Health Risk Assessment
» Download PDF
» Read more -
Good Practice Guidance on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria
» Download PDF
» Read more
RELATED LINKS
- MMG supports crocodile conservation in Lao PDR
- Goldcorp builds community trust through independent monitoring
- Anglo American invest in infrastructure at Barro Alto
- Rio Tinto welcomes tourists to Madagascar
- Mitsubishi pioneers metals recycling scheme in Japan
- Teck saves native Oregon oysters in Coos Bay
- Teck workers sleep easy at Carmen de Andacollo lodge
- Teck helps protect grizzly bears in Canadian foothills
- Newmont's integrated malaria, HIV/tuberculosis program at Batu Hijau, Indonesia
- Vale Inco contributes to the preservation of traditional languages in New Caledonia
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
Principle 05:
Seek continual improvement of our health and safety performance
© International Council on Mining and Metals 2010 │Terms and Conditions │Privacy Policy