Oil pipeline helps spread of HIV

The construction of an oil pipeline route between Cameroon and Chad has created conditions for the spread of HIV/AIDS, the Los Angeles Times report on Wednesday. Inadequate health care and an increase in migration and prostitution has accompanied the US $3.7 billion pipeline route to connect the Chadian oil fields of ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco and Petronas with Cameroon's Atlantic coast. Bill Jobin, a health consultant hired to analyse the pipeline's likely impact, said HIV/AIDS was the "hottest health issue of the project". However, ExxonMobil has called the cost of a workplace HIV/AIDS programme "prohibitive", despite Jobin urging the company to treat HIV-positive employees. Jobin said HIV could spread further into surrounding areas with construction nearing completion and HIV-positive truck drivers, workers and sex workers returning to their countries of origin.