The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to have a serious impact on the population and economy of South Africa. In 1999, UNAIDS and WHO estimated that 20% of South African adults were infected with HIV. While many consider this epidemic merely a public health crisis, it is much more. The loss of 20% of the population in their prime productivity and earning years of life is a destabilising force for the sustained economic growth of the country. From a business standpoint this means an HIV infection rate of 20% among potential customers. From an industry viewpoint, it means that potentially 20% of employees are infected, with a declining potential employee pool in the general community. The economic impact upon the consumer and employee populations has a direct impact upon businesses. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is an economic, social and public health crisis. Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa is committed to taking a leadership role in the business community in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The company has provided leadership in this field within the South African auto industry by serving as a resource and hosting an HIV/AIDS conference with other employers.

Ford Motor Company is the world's second largest carmaker, selling vehicles in 200 markets. It has manufacturing facilities in 25 countries on six continents. Manufacturing employment accounts for about 80% of the approximately 346,000 people employed by Ford. The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) employs more than 3,700 people.

In 1998, FMCSA management recognised HIV/AIDS as a growing business concern with potential impact on employees and their families, customers, suppliers and the economic stability of the country. Employees spend eight hours or more in the workplace, employers are thus in a unique position to provide programmes to help employees and their families address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Workplace programmes can help to address the stigma that still surrounds HIV infection by promoting open discussions among employees, as well as providing accurate information about HIV prevention. Ford's HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme was developed in the second quarter of 1999, and is led by a steering committee chaired by the FMCSA CEO and Group Managing Director. It meets with management and employee representatives monthly.

The programme focuses on education, testing, counselling, communication, and community involvement in partnership with NUMSA (the largest trade union) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The company developed an HIV/AIDS policy and posted it in prominent areas of all facilities. For HIV/AIDS awareness training, the company shut down each facility for an afternoon during which professional artists performed in an industrial theatre play. By shutting down operations every employee was able to participate in the training.

Two HIV/AIDS Programme coordinators were appointed to lead this initiative in Pretoria and Port Elizabeth, where the company has its facilities. Twenty peer educators have been trained at each facility. The peer educators also give presentations at local schools on HIV prevention. A family HIV/AIDS Awareness Day attracted 2000 participants; parents were given informational brochures on how to talk to their teenagers about HIV/STI prevention. Educational materials are printed in four major languages and distributed to employees.

The HIV/AIDS programme distributes condoms on site, free of charge. Condom distribution was decentralised by making them available in the change rooms, in addition to the medical department. Monthly distribution increased from 700 to 17,000 per month after changing the distribution locations. The medical benefit plan was revised to align with the company's HIV/AIDS efforts. The on-site medical staff was trained in the latest best practice protocols for STI treatment and related opportunistic infections. The medical clinic also provides directly observed treatments (DOTS) for tuberculosis. Facilities for voluntary counselling and testing were identified for employee and family referrals.

Results and lessons

The steering committee believes that employees no longer hesitate to engage in open discussion on HIV/AIDS, with more and more people seeking advice and clarity. The programme has put a stop to the rhetoric surrounding HIV/AIDS and moved into action in the fight against the spread of the epidemic. The programme is extended to employees, contract workers, pensioners and their families and has reached more than 12,000 people. Ongoing communication on the topic of HIV/AIDS awareness continues in the workplace, aimed at moving from awareness to knowledge. The programme's success can be attributed to the awareness and actions taken by the company to develop a comprehensive programme, the partnerships with the unions and CDC, and having passionate champions within the company. Next activities for the programme include greater outreach to the community and mentoring programmes for AIDS orphans.