To effectively combat HIV/Aids, countries should have laws that are not punitive but protective of human rights or vulnerable groups such as sex workers, drug users, homosexuals and transgender people.

Chamber of Mines health head Dr Thuthula Balfour-Kaipa says this was the general consensus during the International Aids Conference, which took place at the Durban International Conference Centre, in KwaZulu-Natal, last month.

She highlights that these groups are at greater risk of contracting HIV when they are discriminated against and appropriate services are not provided, and that the mining industry has been through this, as it “is a microcosm of society”.

Balfour-Kaipa notes that the mining industry has particular experience in dealing with sex workers and the industry’s approach is to work with sex workers and educate them and their clients on HIV. “Rather than sending the practice underground, with higher rates of infection, this approach led to relative control of the epidemic.”

Meanhwile, the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) hosted a parallel session at the Aids Conference, which covered, among others, workplace HIV programmes, testing for HIV, as well as tuberculosis (TB), and integrated employee wellness programmes.

“Mining companies offer extensive health services and it is clear that the current trend by companies to provide comprehensive health services is the best way of dealing with the health of employees.”

She adds that the MHSC has conducted research that will form part of the input into an integrated policy on HIV, TB and silicosis management for South Africa’s mining sector.

TB and HIV are the leading causes of the increased mortality rate, absenteeism and poor productivity in the local mining sector.

Balfour-Kaipa explains that integrated service delivery for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, TB and HIV, is the most effective means of providing these services, while combating the stigma of HIV at the same time. Further, integrated services also reduce costs and duplication.

“The incidence of chronic disease infections is rising, even in developing countries, and this wave of diseases should be addressed [by] leveraging existing platforms developed during the phase when massive resources were allocated to HIV management.”

She asserts that it is important that the sector, government and organised labour work together to reach a resolution to the health concerns of mineworkers, as it would foster improved productivity and economic development: “There should be more collaboration and effective partnerships that support the various programmes aimed at responding to the challenges of HIV and TB.”