South Africa: Gold Fields to Provide AIDS Drugs to Workers

On April 1, Gold Fields announced it will join the ranks of South African mining giants Anglo American and De Beers by providing antiretroviral drugs to its HIV-infected workers. Gold Fields, the nation's second-largest gold producer, previously provided the drugs on a limited basis that matched government policy: They were offered to pregnant women, sexual assault victims, and employees exposed occupationally. Company spokesperson Willie Jacobsz said an estimated 30 percent of Gold Fields' 48,000 employees are HIV-infected. Prevalence among the company's workers is expected to peak at 34 percent in two years' time. Jacobsz said about 1,000 workers are at the stage of illness that would qualify them for antiretroviral treatment. The program is expected to cost Rand 1,200-1,500 (US$152-190) per worker per month.

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