The private sector responds to the epidemic: Debswana - a global benchmark

Abstract

This report describes the response of the Debswana Diamond Company in Botswana to the HIV epidemic among its workers. The company began with a small-scale study, and then mounted a major education and awareness campaign. Later the company appointed full-time AIDS program coordinators and developed its HIV/AIDS management policy. The report discusses the company’s institutional audit of susceptibility and vulnerability to HIV, and the resulting HIV/AIDS policy, which includes a new company-wide HIV/AIDS strategy, restructuring of employee benefits to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS, strategy for providing anti-retroviral drugs, and regular evaluation and measurement of the company’s programs as well as HIV/AIDS impact indicators.