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The interventions set up through the programme ranged from developing a database of HIV/AIDS service providers to training peer educators and conducting management training.

Programme findings were presented at a breakfast on 9 May 2008 at the Hyatt Regency in Johannesburg. The Japanese ambassador to South Africa, Akihiko Furuya, was a guest speaker.

SABCOHA partnered with the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) to conduct the programme with six automotive manufacturers and one mining company (Hernic Ferrochrome).

In his opening address, Brad Mears, the CEO of SABCOHA, noted: "This is the first collective HIV/AIDS improvement programme in the private sector in South Africa. Without the full participation of the automotive and mining sectors, we would not have seen these achievements."

JBIC is a policy-based financial institution responsible for conducting Japan's external economic policy and economic co-operation. It has adopted proactive measures against HIV/AIDS and has encouraged project-executing agencies to offer HIV prevention programmes aimed at its staff members, construction workers and local residents.

Furuya said the the strength of the South African economy was rooted in human resources. He believed that tackling these issues would assist in African development, and described Africa as a "continent of hope and opportunity".

The findings from the motor and mining sectors were presented. Jackie Tau, the chairman of SABCOHA, said: "The capacity building initiative in the mining and automotive sectors can be replicated not only in South Africa, but across Africa and even internationally."

Motor industry interventions

Before any programmes were implemented, an overview of the sector's HIV/AIDS programme was prepared based on information provided by BMW South Africa, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, General Motors of South Africa, Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Nissan South Africa, Toyota South Africa and Volkswagen South Africa.

This overview gave SABCOHA and RedPeg (which delivered the programmes in the motor industry), insight into the type and variety of workplace programmes in the sector. It was found that while sector members were involved in the health welfare of their employees, the programmes in place varied widely in form and content. They also found that sector members shared a common agenda - to expand and diversify interventions involving the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Following the overview, the companies selected to participate in the programme provided a list of what they felt were their HIV/AIDS capacity-building needs. RedPeg then assessed these needs and recommended what interventions should be implemented. These include the:

• Development of a database of HIV/AIDS service providers;
• Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey;
• Training of master trainers;
• Training of HIV/AIDS peer counsellors;
• HIV/AIDS supply-chain model; and
• HIV/AIDS capacity building seminars for management.

Hernic Ferrochrome interventions (mining)

The purpose was to ensure that Hernic and its contractors were able to respond appropriately to HIV/AIDS. Aganang (which delivered the programmes for Hernic) evaluated eight HIV/AIDS policies and draft policies with the aim of providing the companies involved with an HIV/AIDS policy that encompassed the relevant legal aspects that are required in a workplace HIV policy.

The policies are based on the World Health Organisation's and South African Bureau of Standards' SANS 16001 systems and standards of managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

The interventions included:

• Management training;
• HIV/AIDS policy formulation and evaluation;
• Peer educator training; and
• Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT).

The breakfast was followed by a workshop and included presentations from RedPeg, Toyota, Nissan, Hernic Ferrochrome and Aganang. - Les Tilley - SABCOHA

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