03 June 2011
Anglo American and Virgin Unite present Frontline Heroes for Health award to rural community health centre, Bhubezi
Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of Anglo American, and Sir Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman of the Virgin Group, presented the inaugural Frontline Heroes for Health award at the
10th Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Awards Dinner, in New York.
The co-sponsored award recognises leadership in community
healthcare and was this year presented to Kgomotso Kwenje and Dr
Gilbert Khosa who co-manage the Bhubezi Community Health Centre in
South Africa. Kgomotso and Gilbert both returned to their rural
home town in South Africa after completing their studies with the
intention of boosting the standard of healthcare in their
community.
Bhubezi Community Health Centre, located in Bushbuckridge
Mpumalanga, South Africa, is the result of collaboration between
the community, government and business. Supported by USAID / PEPFAR
(the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), the
South African Department of Health, Ndlovu Care Group, Anglo
American and Virgin Unite, Bhubezi Community Health Centre is the
first to offer basic and specialised healthcare in the region.
Since its establishment in 2007 it has received more than 130,000
patients and provided more than 3,500 HIV positive patients with
anti-retroviral treatment.
“We are honoured to receive the inaugural Frontline Heroes
for Health award and would like to thank our supporting partners -
USAID / PEPFAR, South African Department of Health, Ndlovu Care
Group, Anglo American and Virgin Unite. We hope that this global
recognition will encourage many more partnerships like ours,”
Kgomotso Kwenje said.
“More than 130,000 patients have been treated at our
health centre and this has revolutionised the way our community
understands the concept of healthcare. Importantly, HIV positive
patients now recognise that anti-retroviral treatment can
drastically improve their quality of life. We look forward to
continuing our work to ensure all healthcare facilities receive
anti-retroviral treatment,” Dr Gilbert Khosa said.
Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American, commented:
“Anglo American is delighted to recognise the achievements of the Bhubezi Community Health Centre at this year’s Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria awards dinner. Its success emphasises the power of effective collaboration between business, the community and government to strengthen healthcare systems. We remain committed to fostering deep partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders so that we can continue to drive positive outcomes in health and we acknowledge that this demands a coordinated response.”
Dr Brian Brink, Chief Medical Officer, Anglo American, and based
in South Africa, commented: “Anglo American acknowledges that
improving the social and economic prosperity of communities rests
with improving healthcare. Building on the success of partnerships
like Bhubezi Community Health Centre will be critical as we
continue to improve our response to long-standing healthcare issues
and particularly women’s health and rights, because women and
girls remain particularly vulnerable to HIV infection.”
Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group of Companies,
commented: “Gilbert and Kgomotso both realised that local
people would have to step up to the plate in the fight against the
twin scourge of HIV and TB and we commend them for their tireless
commitment. For Anglo American and Virgin Unite, we feel the true
spirit and passion comes from the frontline heroes who are at the
heart and soul of so many of our efforts in supporting and
uplifting communities around the world. It’s a joy for Virgin
Unite to be part of the Bhubezi Community Health Centre
partnership.”
Melinda Wilson, Division Leader for HIV Care and Treatment,
USAID South Africa commented: “We are happy that the
recipients of this award are part of our program in South Africa
and that USAID and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief has been a part of this effective public-private
partnership.” Anglo American is a platinum sponsor of the
10th Anniversary GBC Health Conference and Awards Dinner. The GBC
brings together more than 500 business executives, policy makers,
thought leaders and celebrities to discuss the corporate response
to global health challenges.
A video of Bhubezi Community Health Centre is available at
www.angloamerican.com
Further information about Anglo American’s health
programmes
- In 2002, Anglo American was the first major employer to begin
offering free antiretroviral treatment to all its employees and, in
December 2008, Anglo American extended this benefit to
employees’ direct dependants. This decision was based largely
on the understanding that HIV/AIDS cannot be effectively managed
when only one family member receives care for a disease that
affects the whole family.
- Anglo American’s world-leading HIV/AIDS response,
providing the largest free HIV and AIDS workplace and voluntary
counselling and testing (VCT) programme, has been held up as best
practice by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria.
- Anglo American’s recent progress was rewarded by the
Global Business Coalition (GBC) on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria at the organisation’s Business Excellence Awards in
June 2009, where the company’s Thermal Coal business was
recognised as having the best HIV/AIDS workplace programme in the
world.
- The GBC Awards are earned by companies that have demonstrated
extraordinary commitment, action and results, and have achieved
exceptional success in putting their assets to work in the fight
against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
- Anglo American’s 2009 international employee HIV/AIDS
campaign detailed the company’s response in the areas of
eliminating the stigma and discrimination related to the disease.
The programme also focuses on preventing new infections, the
provision of care and confidential support for employees and their
dependants
infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and managing and mitigating
the impact of HIV/AIDS on operations.
In so doing, Anglo American is making a positive contribution
towards minimising the social, economic and
developmental consequences of the epidemic.
- Workplace programmes are in place at all Group operations and
business units, with activity particularly focused in southern
Africa, where HIV prevalence figures are estimated at 18% of the
region’s workforce.
- Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business received the top
award in the 'Workplace Category' for its holistic approach to
HIV/AIDS and was commended by the judges for “its
comprehensive, robust and evidence based approach to managing HIV
and AIDS in the workplace; coupled with the outstanding leadership
and commitment of the company’s management and leadership
team."
- Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases is one of the
eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and 2010
represents an important milestone in the progress of this
initiative.
Media
UK
James Wyatt-Tilby
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8759
Emily Blyth
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8481
South Africa
Pranill Ramchander
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 2592
Investors
UK
Caroline Metcalfe
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 2192
Leisha Wemyss
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8607
Notes to editors:
Anglo American plc is
one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered
in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock
exchanges. Anglo American’s portfolio of mining businesses
spans precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global
leader in both platinum and diamonds; base metals – copper
and nickel; and bulk commodities – iron ore, metallurgical
coal and thermal coal. Anglo American is committed to the highest
standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses
and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the
development of the communities around its operations. The
company’s mining operations and extensive pipeline of growth
projects are located in southern Africa, South America, Australia,
North America and Asia.
www.angloamerican.com
About Virgin Unite:
Virgin Unite is the
non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group. We unite people to
tackle tough social and environmental problems in an
entrepreneurial way. Our aim is to help revolutionize the way
business, governments and the social sector work together –
driving business as a force for good. This is based on the belief
that this is the only way we can tackle the scale and urgency of
the challenges facing the world today. Virgin Unite’s
overheads are covered by Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group,
meaning that 100% of additional donations received go direct to the
frontline where they are needed most. For more information please
visit www.virginunite.com.
Follow us on Twitter
www.twitter.com/virginunite.
Join the movement on Facebook
www.facebook.com/pages/Virgin-Unite
For more information on Virgin Unite, please contact:
UK/US
Ellie Springett: +44 7 757 369 794
Christine Choi: +1 415 531 4754
South Africa
Fiona Ross: + 27 83 324 1234
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