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Article

13 Mar 2007

Author:
Jim Landers, Dallas Morning News

Mine company attacks AIDS [Botswana]

In 1999, the company that is the lifeblood of this southern African nation asked itself a question: Should Debswana [a joint venture between the Botswana Govt. & De Beers] intervene to try to arrest the scourge of AIDS among its diamond miners?..."The cost of not doing anything would cripple the organization..." recalled...Debswana's group manager for HIV/AIDS...Debswana…discovered that 28.8 percent [of its employees] were HIV positive…Debswana mounted a massive wellness program to save itself...built two hospitals and several clinics...did away with the hostel model of housing...distributes anti-retroviral drugs to employees and family members…