Botswana Diamond Firm to Help Workers With HIV-AIDS

On Wednesday, one of the most significant corporate AIDS funding programs was initiated by Botswana's diamond mining giant Debswana, which announced that it would pay for antiretroviral AIDS drugs for its workers. Debswana, which employs 6,000 people at its three mines, has offered to pay 90 percent of the treatment costs for one employee and one legally married spouse who is HIV-positive. The company -- a joint venture between the government and industry leader DeBeers -- is the world's largest source of diamonds by value, accounting for 80 percent of Botswana export earnings and 50 percent of government revenues. According to United Nation's estimates, Botswana has the world's highest incidence of HIV infection, with an adult prevalence rate of 35.8 percent.

Other CDC News for March 8, 2001