How to join

Simply fill in the membership application form and email or fax form and proof of payment to SABCOHA.

BMW

The BMW Group focuses mainly on manufacturing and distributing automobiles and motorcycles. BMW has 23 production and assembly plants, 28 sales subsidiaries, a research and development network and worldwide market presence (September 2003).

Goal

Building an HIV/AIDS workplace programme that addresses BMW South Africa’s specific context.

Key questions

1. Is an un-linked prevalence survey necessary to motivate the creation of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme?
2. How can BMW extend this programme to suppliers and contractors when those companies are often much smaller than BMW?
3. How can BMW SA increase the number of HIV-positive employees enrolled in the insurance scheme’s comprehensive treatment programme including anti-retrovirals?

Programme description

BMW South Africa developed its HIV/AIDS programme through a multi-stakeholder HIV/AIDS committee to address needs identified in its 2001 KAP assessment.

BMW South Africa developed its HIV/AIDS policy in December 2000. The policy was developed by the HIV/AIDS committee and is chaired by the plant manager, who is a board member. It is also composed of representatives from the union, finance, human resources, medical services, management and other interested parties.

BMW South Africa built its prevention and awareness programme around training, peer educators, condom distribution, the treatment of syndromic sexually transmitted infections (STIs), events, workshops, forums and industrial theatre.

The VCT project was launched in 2002 based on the feedback from the 2001 KAP assessment. The service is available to all employees for free at workplace clinics. Since the VCT campaign was launched in 2002, an estimated 77% of employees have been tested.

HIV-positive employees gain access to BMW’s comprehensive care, support and treatment programme, including access to Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment (HAART).

Click here to view the full document.
Click here to view BMW HIV/AIDS Policy.

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Small businesses

Is it reasonable to expect small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa to offer HIV/AIDS services to their employees?

As evidence has accumulated of the negative impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the South African economy, some sectors of society have taken action, while others have not. In the private sector, many large businesses, having recognised the imminent costs of the epidemic and the potential benefits of proactive intervention, are now offering HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services to employees. The vast majority of small and medium sized businesses, however, are not .. >.