CorpComms Magazine

SABMiller, the brewing giant, is extending its HIV/AIDS peer education scheme to all 12 countries where it operates in Africa.

The scheme began as a humanitarian project to provide free treatment for employees and their spouses in 2003 in order to fight a disease which once threatened to kill 45 per cent of infected employees. But within three years, prompted by a massive decline in the death rate, the company expanded its operations.

As well as free treatment for employees, it now includes a comprehensive peer education programme for those in the supply chain including truck drivers, waitresses and farmers who provide raw material.

The programme includes awareness and prevention education, counselling and testing and the provision of anti-retroviral therapy as needed. The greatest success has been seen in Uganda, however, the company has built up its capability and reports there are now nearly 1,200 peer educators across its businesses in Africa.

The newest initiative is to overcome the barrier to accessing spouses. Due to the stigma and fear associated with HIV people are beginning to be tested in their homes and, on occasion, couples are being tested together.

Due to these reported successes in peer education there are plans to extend the programme in other countries across Asia and Latin America.

share me: del.icio.us | digg | reddit | Tweet