Mining company leads in AIDS treatment

South African mining giant, Anglo American, has announced the launch of an initiative to tackle HIV/AIDS in communities where it conducts business. Anglo's project is believed to be the first big effort to extend HIV/AIDS programmes for its employees into surrounding communities. The mining company hoped that its US $4.3 million HIV/AIDS programme would nudge the government towards the long-awaited national rollout of antiretroviral treatment. Anglo senior vice-president of health, Dr Brian Brink, was quoted by the local Business Day newspaper as saying: "We can't have a few privileged people who get antiretrovirals and support. We will only succeed if government is involved at all levels." President Thabo Mbeki recently defended the government's delay in implementing the national HIV/AIDS treatment plan after it was announced in August