CEO's message on World AIDS Day

Of the more than 34 million people around the world, who are estimated to be infected with the HIV/AIDS virus, more than 5 million are South Africans. This means that South Africa has 17% of the world's HIV/Aids infections. The infection rate is larger than in any other single country in the world.

Unfortunately, it is the women and unborn children who are most at risk. The proportion of affected women is consistently increasing. The Department of Health estimates that this year, the HIV-prevalence among pregnant women in the country has increased from 29.4% to 30.2%.

Another area that is cause for concern is the life expectancy of South Africans, which has declined from 70 years in 1990 to 50 years in 2010. This is due to the increase in the prevalence in the older age group, mainly due to a lack of awareness, education and counselling.

“Getting to zero”, the theme for this year’s World HIV/AIDS day, reminds us all, that although we have taken great strides in helping those infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, through the various national HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns, wellness programmes and the governments distribution of Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, it is vital that we continue to fight and end the spread of this pandemic. This fight is a collective one and to achieve this zero infection rate, we will also have to take responsibility of our own, as well as our family’s health and wellness.

ABB South Africa values the hard work and contribution of employees and the valuable role that many of them play in their communities. We have put in place various wellness initiatives that will increase awareness and educate employees, on the HIV/AIDS virus and other wellness issues.

Since 2004, ABB have partnered Swedish Workplace HIV/AIDS Programme (SWHAP) and Reality Wellness to provide co-funding for workplace activities related to HIV and AIDS such as on-site HIV testing, counselling and support. SWHAP evaluate, document and provide follow up mechanisms for interventions. The co-funding is provided on an annual basis.

We also have the peer educator programme, an initiative that has seen employees helping to facilitate change of attitudes and stereotypes that exist within the organisation, regarding the HIV/AIDs virus. Our peer educators play an important role in advising colleagues and communities about support programmes at ABB. We commend them for this great initiative.

Employee wellness days are also hosted at the various branches; this includes the annual World HIV/AIDS Day commemoration. This programme includes on-site Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) for all employees, industrial theatre and motivational speeches from persons living with HIV/AIDS. I hope all employees will continue to support these initiatives.

As part of our support for the communities in which we work and operate, ABB’s Corporate Social Investment programmes are structured to support orphaned and vulnerable children through the Starfish Greathearts Foundation, an international development charity that assists more than 36,000 children in 120 communities across South Africa and through Nurturing Orphans of Aids for Humanity (Noah), a non-profit organisation that cares for more than 19,000 vulnerable children and orphans of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Although ABB is doing much to assist employees and those in our communities who are affected and infected by this virus, there is still a lot that can be done to meet the getting to zero target. Let us reflect on the many colleagues, peers, relatives and friends who have lost their lives to this epidemic, and reaffirm our commitment to assist those who are living with the virus.

Regards