HIV/AIDS Strategy Stakeholders
As Anglo American looks for the most effective HIV/AIDS approach, it needs to consider the different stakeholders in South Africa.
The stakeholders include the South African government, the Anglo American employees, the populations of surrounding communities, families of employees, the Global Council on HIV/AIDS, The National Union of Mineworkers, pharmaceutical companies and other multinational companies in the private sector, such as Coca-Cola.
Anglo American’s HIV/AIDS Strategy
There are several pros and cons that arise from Anglo American’s adoption of an aggressive approach on HIV/AIDS. The pros include the fact that the approach adopted has served to assist the employees that are infected with HIV/AIDS. The employees are healthier and are, therefore, able to continue working with the company for a longer period.
This not only saves the company replacement and re-training costs, it also has a positive effect on the country’s GDP. Other pros include the education and information that the company provides, not only to the employees and their families, but to the surrounding communities as well.
The cons that arise out of this aggressive approach include the harsh criticism that the company receives from different stakeholders, such as the National Union of Mineworkers and the South African Government. These stakeholders are displeased with the costs that might transfer to them, once these mineworkers are unemployed or retired, and they need to continue with the expensive ATR treatment.
Other cons include the large amounts of treatment funds going to waste as a large percentage of employees do not adhere to the treatment regimen. Other cons relate to the HIV/AIDS prevalence that does not seem to diminish despite the company’s efforts. For example, some infected employees are under the assumption that they do not need to continue using condoms as they are receiving ART treatment.
It is my recommendation that the company proceeds with its efforts regarding the HIV/AIDS policy. Anglo American should continue providing free ART treatment to its employees and their families. The company, however, needs to improve on its awareness and education. The employees require additional awareness on how to prevent further infection and on the importance of sticking to the treatment regimen strictly.
Migrant Workers
Anglo American and the government should continue hiring migrant workers. Blocking the entry and hiring of these workers would not stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. In all likelihood, it would negatively affect the profitability of the mining companies such as Anglo American and the overall GDP of the country.
Pharmaceutical Companies
The various companies play an important role in the epidemic approach. For example, in partnership with Anglo American, GlaxoSmithKline provides the ART medicine at a reduced rate of 10%, just as it would for a non-profit organization. The companies also ensure that the drugs provided are original and not outdated.
My recommendation to a company that produces HIV/AIDS drugs would be to work in partnership with not-for profit organizations and companies such as Anglo American, to provide affordable drugs to the infected.
In regards to the concern of the affordable drugs being resold to other countries at a higher price, I would recommend that the pharmaceutical companies package the drugs sold to companies such as Anglo American in a package that indicates they are for non-profit organizations and that they should not be resold. This will deter most commercial enterprises from reselling such drugs.