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Mining giant expands HIV/AIDS programme

    JOHANNESBURG

    South Africa's second-largest gold producer on Thursday said it would soon provide antiretroviral drugs to all employees living with HIV/AIDS.

    Gold Fields' existing "Wellness Management Programme" previously only provided treatment to HIV-positive pregnant women, victims of sexual assault, and employees at risk of occupational exposure to HIV.

    "The programme is expected to cost the group an estimated US $160 to $189 per worker per month. It will be administered through our in-house hospitals and clinics," Gold Fields spokesman, Willie Jacobsz, told the UN news service PlusNews.

    Jacobsz said over 1,000 out of 48,000 workers were moving into the stage of AIDS-related illness, and would greatly benefit from the new programme.

    Gold Fields has joined the ranks of mining giants Anglo American and De Beers who recently implemented treatment programmes for their workers.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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