Joy Beckett – De Beer’s HIV/AIDS Manager, operations
Tracey Peterson – directed the HIV/AIDS community programs
Dr. Dudley Wang – CMO of De Beers Group
Michelle Venketsamy – administrative assistant.
Facts:
1. At the end of the 2005 De beers had a comprehensive HIV/AIDS Strategy covering all the aspects of the prevention, education, treatment and community involvement.
2. In 2005, mining amounted to 7.5% of country’s GDP, but by 2006 it dropped to 2.3%
3. According to PwC 2005 was successful year for the mining industry. Global mining companies increased their investment by about 30% and profits by 60%. However, this was not the case for South Africa. According to South African Chamber of Mines, investment in country mining sector declined by almost a third in 2004 and 2005. South Africa’s mineral operating profits grew by just 12% in 2005 and production fell by 6% in first half of 2006.
4. Reason for above is rooted in the volatility of the local currency, government regulations and the union’s position. The value of South African Rand against USD more than doubled between Dec 2001 and Dec 2004, offsetting commodity price increase.
5. In 2005, company announced the “shift from a supply-controlled business to a demand driven-one”.
6. South Africa is the most severely impacted region. It has largest reported infected population in the world 5.5 million.
7. Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) were recognised the most effective treatment for AIDS. The most commonly used combination of ARVs are Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) which is highly effective at fighting the spread of the virus but they are toxic and can create very difficult short and long term side effects. To be effective ARV require complete compliance with treatment from patient. Lack of compliance may lead to other opportunistic infections and can lead to developing new drug- resistance strains of the HIV virus.
8. A survey of 771 AIDS affected households in three