Diversified miner Xstrata Coal South Africa opened eight new clinics in 2007 as well as a fully equipped hospital  in Mpumalanga province at a cost of R33-million. 
The project was initiated as part of the company’s wellness programme, says Xstrata Coal South Africa media liaison officer Songezo Zibi.

The clinics and hospital were built as a public-private partnership (PPP) between the company, the Mpumalanga health department, the US Presidential Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), civil society groups and Re-Action (the broker and technical implementation partner), he says.

The financial investment by Pepfar and Xstrata Coal since the initiative started is R33-million. The PPP identifies community needs, provides antiretroviral drugs and distributes them safely to all sites. 
The Department of Health also helps the PPP’s integrated approach by working with other government departments to ensure that community members are able to access the full range of social and other support services.

Since July 2007, the partnership has expanded from one community in Breyten (Ermelo) to include eight communities in other municipalities. 
The local government authorities include the municipalities of Emalahleni, Msukaligwa and Victor Khanye, while civil society is represented by nongovernmental organisations and the Mpumalanga Traditional Healers Association.

“Having decided, in 2004, to meet the challenge of HIV/Aids and tuberculosis head-on, we soon realised that merely offering medical services to our employees was not enough. 
“We took a conscious decision to expand the programme to the community through a broad-based partnership that we initiated and for which we secured vital support from the Department of Health, 
in Mpumalanga. 
“The facilities now provide services to over 14 000 patients a year with 135 full-time staff who include community outreach workers, counsellors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical officers,” says Xstrata Coal South Africa COO Murray Houston.

“Re-Action went beyond its technical advice and implementation role and pursued the involvement of other crucial partners on our behalf, including Pepfar and civil society groups. 
“Re-Action’s efforts helped to mobilise the support of community members, which has ensured the continuing success of the programme,” Houston adds.

Re-Action MD Sharon White says that the partnership is now joined by the Department of Minerals, Xstrata Alloys, Anglo Coal, Harmony Gold, Sasol and Eskom, paving the way for more resources to be available for further expansion. The 
new private-sector partners all have sig-nificant employee health and wellness programmes.