The Business Response to HIV/AIDS: Impact and lesson learned

essential for 'triggering' action and for an effective
response to HIV/AIDS. The initial impact study
undertaken in 1995 provided the evidence to senior
management that HIV/AIDS would seriously impact on
Eskom operations. In 1999 Eskom commissioned an
advanced HIV/AIDS risk analysis incorporating
improved available information, such as the need to
take account of the demographics of employees. This
highlighted the economic and financial impact,
particularly in terms of productivity, loss of personnel,
training needs and pension and medical costs. This
analysis acts as an important learning tool. In addition
they have undertaken knowledge and attitude studies
(80 percent awareness and knowledge levels) and an
anonymous and voluntary HIV/AIDS surveillance study
(HIV prevalence rate lower than the 1995 prediction of
11 percent), which have provided reliable data to assist
and improve measurement of future actions and
training.
* Information sharing: Given Eskom's acknowledgement
of the importance of information they have taken a
proactive role in sharing and disseminating
information on HIV/AIDS programmes and giving
advice to the private, governmental and NGO sectors,
nationally and internationally. They commissioned a
study of the experiences and strategies of HIV/AIDS in
the workplace of several southern African countries.
Eskom have also facilitated the formation of the South
African Business Council on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA) with
the aim of combining business efforts to respond to
the epidemic. SABCOHA is developing a HIV/AIDS
workplace resource centre to act as a central
information and advisory centre for businesses (see
Profile 16).
* Partnerships for community action: Eskom have
recognised that behaviour and the level of knowledge
within the local communities and contractors can
undermine the workforce HIV/AIDS programmes. As a
result they have extended HIV/AIDS education and
awareness campaigns to these groups. Eskom have set
out to maximise its extended responses to local
communities through joint ventures with NGOs, local
government, mining sectors and UNAIDS. For example,
Eskom is partnering UNAIDS to change behaviours and
reduce the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS through
the greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Eskom contracted two field workers who are living with
HIV/AIDS to undertake this work with their employees
and the wider community. Eskom are also major

partners with two mining industry companies in the

Kriel Project, an education and prevention project aimed
at commercial sex workers, with plans to improve and
extend its reach and impact (see Profile 10).
3. Results and lessons
Following recent surveys and studies, the mechanisms for
assessing the success of Eskom's response to HIV/AIDS are
now in place. The lower HIV prevalence rate than originally
predicted, and the high level of awareness and knowledge
observed, present some evidence of the effectiveness of the
education and prevention programmes. Other successes
that Eskom identify are the support and cooperation from
management, employees and unions; low incidence of
discrimination against the field workers with HIV/AIDS; and
a greater willingness of employees to seek more
information about their risks and HIV status. It is Eskom's
view that the benefits of HIV/AIDS prevention strategies
outweigh the costs of an unchecked spread of HIV/AIDS
within the workplace and communities.
The extensive review process undertaken by Eskom has
produced numerous lessons in terms of the 'ingredients of
success' and recommendations for improvements. Some of
these are as follows:
1. Develop a HIV/AIDS policy with a clear commitment to
address HIV/AIDS in a positive, supportive, nondiscriminatory and confidential manner;
2. Undertake responses in collaboration with other
partners from the public, private and NGO sectors to
assist and maximise the impact on HIV/AIDS in the
workplace and communities;
3. Adopt peer education using accurate, easily understood
and accessible information;
4. Coordinate resources and referral systems for internal
and community resources;
5. Provide easily available and accessible condom
distribution;
6. Involve people living with HIV/AIDS in the response to
HIV/AIDS and provide continuous education to prevent
stigma and discrimination;
7. Provide support and counselling for employees living
with HIV/AIDS using external organisations, psychologists
and peer counsellors;
8. Establish leadership and board level commitment and
an understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS;
9. Demonstrate the business benefits and human resource
implications of HIV/AIDS programmes;
10. Secure labour organisations and other networks support
in order to create an environment conducive to learning;
11. Monitor HIV/AIDS, opportunistic infections and
programmes for a more effective and appropriate

response.

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THE BUSINESS RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS: Impact and lessons learned