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Sasol

The global company mines coal and explores for, and produces, natural gas and crude oil, and operates more than 20 petrochemical and chemical sites around the world.

It has implemented the Sasol HIV/Aids Response Programme (SHARP) in South Africa and Mozambique, which was launched in September 2002. This
initiative – which involved input from business, trade unions, community representatives and independent experts – is an integrated approach focused on reducing the rate of infection throughout the group, and extending the quality of life of infected employees through the provision of managed healthcare.

Sasol provides access to counselling, HIV testing, HIV/Aids education, treatment of opportunistic illnesses such as tuberculosis and malaria, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, eliminating discrimination on the basis of HIV/Aids status and the provision of managed healthcare (including antiretroviral treatment) for employees.

A principal focus of SHARP remains the need to provide VCT, an essential first step in facilitating appropriate access to healthcare options and a critical component of promoting behavioural change. As a result of its collaborative approach based on trust, Sasol has one of the highest VCT uptakes in South Africa: 82% by 30 June 2005. This compares well with a rate of between 50% and 60% that is typical among most corporate programmes. To date, 7,1% of employees have tested positive for HIV, which is well below the company’s estimated actuarial prevalence rate of 19%.

The successful uptake of VCT has been attributed to the high level of management responsibility for the initiative, the participation of trade union representatives in the SHARP team and a commitment to providing free antiretroviral treatment for affected employees. Having taken all of the
South African operations through VCT, the focus has now shifted to providing comprehensive workplace education and training programmes. Almost 250 line managers received training and its goal is to train 800 managers and 1 000 educators. The programme is being extended into surrounding communities through partnerships with community stakeholders, government
bodies and other companies in South Africa and Mozambique.

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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 .. >.