HIV/AIDS

Regrettably, HIV/Aids continues to ravage communities worldwide and particularly in South Africa. As part of AECI's effort to support employees and their families in the management of this disease, a number of interventions have been implemented. The Group has undertaken to educate, counsel and assist its employees and their families to prevent the disease and, for those employees already infected, to provide them with the best care and quality of life possible.

Interventions continue to be concentrated in the following three main areas:

• prevention against infection, with training and awareness-raising being the main components. Seminars, newsletters, plays and quizzes are a few of the interventions employed. Condoms are supplied at no cost to employees;
• Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is available to all employees and provides an opportunity for one-on-one discussions, tailored to the needs of the individual; and
• treatment of HIV-positive employees which, in conjunction with the "Aid for AIDS" programme and the EAR function at each AECI company, provides support, counselling and lifestyle management for infected employees and their families.

For World Aids Day, employees participated in Wellness Walks which were held at Gillooly's Farm and at The Woodlands, in Gauteng, and at Umbogintwini in KwaZulu-Natal. The aim of the walks was to raise awareness and funds for two identified beneficiaries:

MOTHER OF PEACE IN AMANZIMTOTI, KWAZULU-NATAL

This non-profit organisation addresses the impact of the HIV/Aids pandemic on orphans and vulnerable children through family care units and a day-care centre. A training centre is also being established to offer training to HIV/Aids volunteers. Skills training will be offered in disciplines such as agriculture and construction. The centre will also accommodate organisations such as the Bobbi Bear Foundation and the I Care Christian School, both of which care for abused children.

TEMBISA CHILD WELFARE IN TEMBISA, GAUTENG

Sewing machines and overlockers were donated and a generator was provided for the baby centre in Phomolong. As a separate initiative, a blanket drive was held at individual Chemserve sites where 300 blankets were distributed to various beneficiaries chosen by the sites themselves.