De Beers to Provide Access to HIV/AIDS Anti-Retroviral Treatment.

Business Editors/Health Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2002

De Beers has taken the decision to introduce anti-retroviral treatment as another integral component in its strategy in fighting HIV/AIDS.

The access to drug treatment is an important addition to the company's holistic approach to employee health and wellness. Consultation with stakeholders such as Government and trade unions will be an important part of the process. Additionally there are some logistical and legal issues that need to be resolved but we hope that the rollout of the drug treatment programme will begin in January 2003.

Whilst this intervention is an important step towards minimising the impact of the Aids pandemic on employees and the company, De Beers believes that health and wellness is, first and foremost, the responsibility of individuals. We therefore encourage every employee and their partner to know their status through the company's free voluntary counselling and testing programme or other facilities.

To encourage compliance with treatment regimes, participants in the drug treatment programme will be expected to make a ten per cent contribution towards the costs. This is in line with best practice established by De Beers' partner company, Debswana in Botswana over the last year of providing drugs to employees.

This will be a global programme available to all De Beers permanent employees as well as a spouse or life partner.

Access to drug treatment will initially run for a two-year pilot period starting January 2003 at the end of which De Beers will review its position. This is with a view to the dynamic environment of continuing drug development and possible Government intervention.

Managing Director of De Beers, Gary Ralfe says, "The provision of anti-retroviral treatment is a moral and humanitarian issue aimed at extending lives and improving the quality of life for infected employees. But it is important to recognise that it is only one aspect of a comprehensive approach by De Beers to employee health and wellness."

The key components of the company's approach to employee wellness include:

-- The Employee Assistance Programme already in existence;

-- HIV/AIDS education and awareness programmes, including the training of peer educators;

-- Access to free Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT);

-- Conveying the importance of general healthy living

-- Conveying the importance of general fitness and nutrition

-- Disease surveillance and management programmes, eg Tuberculosis control

-- Occupational Health best practice at all operations

"Our vision," adds Ralfe, "is for De Beers to be recognised as an employer of choice, leading the fight against HIV/AIDS by applying best practice. We hope our decision will encourage other considering similar interventions in their fight against HIV/AIDS."

    NOTE TO U.S. EDITORS:
    Please see below for responses/comments from leading U.S. figures
on this announcement.

    "It is exciting to see large multinational corporations such as De
Beers begin to accept their responsibilities for taking care of their
workers with HIV/AIDS. Before this, too few companies and too few
countries alike had accepted this responsibility. Now, multi-national
corporations such as De Beers need to work with governments and public
health sectors in developing countries to assure that their HIV
programs include integrated service delivery, prevention, voluntary
testing, care and treatment - including antiretroviral treatment. It
will be particularly important to assure that as workers and their
partners are covered, that plans are made to broaden this to include
entire families."
    Mark Harrington
    Executive Director, Treatment Action Group

    "De Beers will make the best possible treatments available to all
of its employees and their partners living with HIV/AIDS in South
Africa.
    De Beers demonstrates itself to be an enlightened corporate
citizen of the world with such a decision, not only because it wisely
protects the company's interests but foremost because it embodies
moral leadership in the upholding and applying of worldwide
fundamental ethical principles of justice and compassion."
    Mathilde Krim Ph.D.
    Chairman of the Board, American Foundation for AIDS Research
(AmFAR)

    "It is extremely encouraging to see the increasing number of
corporations that have chosen to support their workforce by supplying
antiretroviral therapy. This is one of the most significant ways that
a large corporation can respond to this global pandemic, especially in
the most affected communities. In this context, it is particularly
heartening to learn that now De Beers has committed to make such
therapy available to all employees and their domestic partners in
South Africa. I call on all the global corporate community to follow
the lead of these pioneers, including De Beers, and to make the health
of their workforce a primary concern. It is crucial, however, to
remember that the provision of antiretroviral therapy is not enough;
all access to HIV/AIDS care must be closely interlinked with
aggressive and widespread prevention efforts."
    Peter Piot, M.D., PhD
    Executive Director
    The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
    Geneva, Switzerland

    "I'm delighted that in a country I love so much the best possible
treatment for people with AIDS is now available for all De Beers
employees and their partners. Diamonds have always been my passion,
but the fight against AIDS is now my life. I commend De Beers for
taking this crucial step and hope that other corporations will follow
their important lead."
    Dame Elizabeth Taylor
    Chairman, Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation
    Founding National Chair, AmFAR