AIDS & Mining

HIV/AIDS is not just a public health problem, it is a major development crisis. Because it kills so many adults in the prime of their working and parenting lives, it decimates the workforce, fractures and impoverishes families, orphans millions, and shreds the fabric of communities. While the World Bank Group is launching major efforts to help countries fight HIV/AIDS across the world, mining communities and companies are particularly affected by the disease. The Mining Department is currently working towards designing programs that can assist mining companies and mining communities.

1. Impact of HIV/AIDS on Mining—the Case of South Africa

• 20% of coal miners and 30% of gold miners are HIV+
• these prevalancy rates are 17% higher than base population
• in 5 years 5-10% of company workforce will start to die
• total productivity loss of 20%
• by 2010 life expectancy falls to 37 (female) 38 (male)
• average cost of benefits could triple over 10 years
• attacks 25-45 year olds who subsidize benefits of retirees
• savings used to treat illness, reducing retirement benefits
• vastly increased expenses on health infrastructure

2. Implications for Mining Operations

• Workforce sickness, absenteeism, and turnover
• Cost of training programs
• Lost productivity
• Medical, disability and life insurance
• Company as surrogate family provider
• Mine sites perfect venues for disease spread
• How do you manage a company when 1/3 or your workforce will be dead in 5 years?

3. What Mining Companies Can Do

• Due diligence: employee health surveys
• Workplace sensitization, counseling and education
• Cooperative efforts with national and international campaigns
• Condom availability and education in use
• Provision of STD treatment and other health care
• Provide accommodations for families
• Support community programs