|
Bhp Billiton Receives Global Business Coalition Innovation Award For HIV/AIDS
Management
BHP Billiton Plc
JSE Share Code: BIL
ISIN Code: GB0000566504
FINAL
BHP BILLITON RECEIVES GLOBAL BUSINESS COALITION INNOVATION AWARD FOR HIV/AIDS
MANAGEMENT
BACKGROUND NOTE
BHP Billiton"s HIV/AIDS Policy is driven by the BHP Billiton Charter (our
Constitution): `We value an overriding commitment to health, safety,
environmental responsibility and sustainable development".
This in turn is supported by the Health Safety Environment and Community Policy
which outlines our principles in relation to these issues, under the goal of
`Zero Harm" to employees and the community.
BHP Billiton recognises that HIV/AIDS is a global issue impacting on our
employees, their dependants and their communities, as well as on our service
providers and customers; its impact even extends to the infrastructure of
countries in which we operate. BHP Billiton was one of the first corporates to
sign up to the Global Reporting Initiative, which has the objective of applying
the same levels of disclosure for non-financial matters as to financials.
Scope and impact of the BHP Billiton HIV/AIDS programme
In the workplace the BHP Billiton HIV/AIDS programme can be grouped into two
focus areas: prevention and treatment.
Prevention is the number one goal, for both employees and their families as well
as the communities around our operations.
In South Africa we employ approximately 17 000 people the overwhelming majority
of whom reside in their own accommodation with their families in areas
surrounding their workplaces. The company"s current prevalence rate is 14%,
which is substantially lower than the mining industry and compares favourably to
the manufacturing sector"s prevalence rate.
The management of the HIV/AIDS has developed over a period of time. An
extensive awareness and education campaign has been in place at all our
operations since 1993 (i.e.over 10 years ago) through partnerships with
employees and employee organizations such as trade unions.
Education is a key element in the prevention programme and includes peer
education, voluntary testing, counselling and condom distribution. Awareness is
spread through every means possible, from industrial theatre to picture posters
to the written word.
Voluntary testing
In order to ascertain the exact extent and nature of the epidemic, a system of
voluntary testing with the full consent of the employee, was introduced. All our
staff are involved in the consultation process and following consultation and
agreement with employees, the company also conducts anonymous and voluntary
saliva testing in order to monitor the exact extent of the disease on an ongoing
basis.
If a person tests positive, further counselling follows.
Treatment
HIV/AIDS is a chronic illness and it cannot be dealt with differently from any
other chronic illnesses. This principle is in line with South Africa"s
constitution that prohibits the elevation of any category of chronic illness
above any other.
Delivery of Antiretrovirals (ARTs)
Every BHP Billiton employee in South Africa is a member of one of 11 medical
funds (subsidised by the company). All these medical schemes provide benefits in
respect of HIV/AIDS, which includes consulting and pathology, treatment of
opportunistic infections, chronic and Antiretroviral medication.
Dependents are also admitted to the schemes and can receive ARTs. All ARTs are
run through professional third party facilitators, on a highly confidential
basis. We believe this goes some way to minimising the incapacitating effects
for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Community Involvement is vital in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and BHP Billiton
is at the forefront of a wide variety of programmes, both in health and
education.
These programmes are geared at allowing people to be a part of the wealth
creation process within their community and restoring their dignity and self-
worth through vocational skills training, organic and food gardening in
partnership with Food & Trees for Africa, sport and recreation, youth holiday
and sport clinics, income generating facilities, conference and training
facilities, catering, electrical repairs, carpentry and coffin making, brick
making and laying, computer refurbishment, garment making, information call
centre facilities, and a goldsmith learnership programme.
We are in consultation with the Department of Labour, The Department of Social
Services, the Local Municipalities and other role players such as SANCO, Youth
organisations and Disabled Body organisations to ensure that the skills provided
do not just end with training, but rather become sustainable through job
creation, particularly via Black Empowerment initiatives. This is followed up
with a business mentorship programme to ensure that emerging businesses can
achieve their expected deliverables.
Some of the more notable examples of community involvement follow:
Ethembeni Care Centre and Amangwe Village near Richards Bay
`Ethembeni" , a Zulu word meaning `A Place of Hope" provides help and hope for
people, families and communities - primarily those infected and affected by
HIV/AIDS.
The AIDS epidemic in KwaZuluNatal has been particularly severe and the estimated
infection rate is around 38%. BHP Billiton"s Bayside and Hillside Aluminium
smelters together with other Richards Bay industries, established the Ethembeni
Care Centre, to provide affordable care for infected employees of local industry
- at the same time generating spin-offs for the community in terms of outreach
projects.
Since its opening in December 1996, Ethembeni has provided assistance to
hundreds of in-patients, and reached thousands through its out-patient community
outreach initiatives. Initially launched as a 12-bed unit, the centre underwent
a R9 million expansion and today has 45 beds as well as the Amangwe Village,
which provides wider training and support to the community.
Hillside and Bayside contribute approximately 80% of the operating costs
annually and have been the main funders of the centre"s Community Health Care Co
ordinator Programme that now has some 80 home based carers working in the rural
communities surrounding Richards Bay.
The Centre received the prestigious Mail & Guardian `Investing in the Future
Award", and was recently identified as one of three best practice models
nationally by the Department of Social Services and Population Development
(South African Government Department).
The Kutulong Community Centre near Meyerton has seen the conversion of
rudimentary, single-sex dormitories that once housed migrant workers into a
vibrant community development centre at Metalloys near Meyerton.
The facility, funded for just US$1 million, includes a hospice for terminally
ill patients, residential units for orphans and vulnerable children, a central
kitchen and dining/multipurpose hall, a resource library and administration and
service facilities. There is also sport and recreation areas and permaculture
gardens.
The aim of the Centre is to add quality to the lives of people who are poverty-
stricken, unemployed, abused and affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, by providing
support, encouragement and development opportunities.
The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS
The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBC) is the pre-eminent organization
leading the business fight against HIV/AIDS. The rapidly-expanding alliance of
international companies is dedicated to combating the AIDS epidemic through the
business sector"s unique skills and expertise.
The GBC was established in 1997. Juergen E. Schrempp, the Chairman of the Board
of Management of DaimlerChrysler was appointed Chairman of the GBC in June 2002.
Previous Chairmen were Sir Richard Sykes, Glaxo Wellcome (1997 - 2000), and Bill
Roedy, MTV Networks International (2000 - 2002). Richard Holbrooke, former US
Ambassador to the United Nations, became President and CEO in 2001. The GBC"s
Executive Director is Trevor Neilson. The GBC is based in New York, in offices
provided free of charge by member company Viacom.
For more information on the The Global Coalition on HIV/AIDS, please refer to
website: www. businessfightsaids.org
ends
NEWS RELEASE
Release Time EMBARGO to 18:30
Date 21 April 2004
Number Local
BHP BILLITON RECEIVES GLOBAL BUSINESS
COALITION INNOVATION AWARD FOR HIV/AIDS MANAGEMENT
BHP Billiton is proud to be named by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS
("GBC") as one of five winners of its 2004 Awards for Business Excellence. The
award, made to BHP Billiton for its innovative HIV/AIDS programme in southern
Africa, was presented to South Africa Chairman of BHP Billiton, Dr Vincent
Maphai by GBC chairman Juergen Schrempp in Berlin, Germany on 21 April 2004.
Speakers at the awards ceremony included German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder,
World Bank President James Wolfensohn, Chairman of DaimlerChrysler Jurgen
Schrempp, U2 lead singer Bono and United States Global AIDS coordinator
Ambassador Randall Tobias.
The GBC citation to the BHP Billiton Award states: "This year, we recognize the
company BHP Billiton, with the newly created Innovation Award, for its stellar
workplace HIV/AIDS response and especially for its pioneering, highly innovative
efforts to reach out to the broader community by converting company-owned single
sex worker hostels into community centers. This approach does not only attempt
to change the underlying social factors that put employees and communities at
risk, but also provides support to people most heavily affected by the disease."
Accepting the award, Dr. Maphai said: "I thank the Global Business Coalition for
recognizing BHP Billiton"s efforts. May the honour of this award encourage
other companies to develop real and effective strategies in managing HIV/AIDS.
This award represents another important step in our drive towards achieving
"Zero Harm" for every BHP Billiton employee and for the people in the
communities in which we operate."
ends
Background Notes attached; and
Interviews ahead of embargo expiry time can be arranged by contacting Michael
Campbell at +27 82 458 2587.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:
http://www.bhpbilliton.com
South Africa United Kingdom
Michael Campbell, Investor and Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel : +27 11 376-3360 Mobile : +27 82 458 2587 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
email : michael.j.campbell@bhpbilliton.com email :
ariane.gentil@bhpbilliton.com
Australia
Tania Price, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815 Mobiel: +61 419 152 780
email: tania.price@bhpbilliton.com
Date: 22/04/2004 07:01:06 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department |
|
