About the Company: Hernic Ferrochrome (Pty) Ltd is the world’s fourth largest producer of ferrochrome, an alloy used in the production of stainless steel. Based in South Africa, near Johannesburg, the company was founded in 1994. In May 1996 two smelters producing 130,000 tons of ferrochrome per annum (pa) were commissioned. This capacity was doubled to 260,000 tons pa in 1999. In 2004, under a US$ 80 million project partly financed by the IFC, the company expanded its production capacity to 420, 000 tons of ferrochrome pa. Hernic has a total of 700 employees whose average age is 35, a high risk age group for HIV/AIDS.
The employees face an elevated risk of exposure to HIV due to their unique work conditions. Many are migrant workers who leave their wives and families and travel long distances to work in the mines. Separation lasts several months, presenting a risk of exposure. The employees are exposed to a very high degree of physical work under extreme heat and dusty conditions. For an HIV positive employee, these conditions could contribute to a faster decline of general health.
AIDS in South Africa: South Africa is one of the countries that have been hit hardest by HIV/AIDS. According to the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the disease is evolving at astonishing speed from an adult prevalence rate of 21.5% at the end of 2003 to 29.5% in 2005. An estimated5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, the highest country case count in the world. AIDS in South Africa is taking a toll on human life. A recent study of more than 2.9 million death notification certificates in the country showed that deaths among people 15 years of age and older increased by 62% in 1997-2002, with deaths among people aged 25-44 years more than doubling. According to UNAIDS’ 2005 AIDS epidemic update, South Africans are dying in patterns that closely match those predicted by AIDS models.
HIV/AIDS Action Plan: Hernic has developed a detailed action plan for its HIV/AIDS program. The objective of the action plan is to create awareness, education, and prevention of HIV/AIDS and its effects among the employees. Initially launched in 2004, Hernic’s workplace program was re-launched in 2005, and an HIV/AIDS policy adopted to guide the implementation of the action plan. A committee chaired by the human resources manager was appointed to manage the implementation of the action plan. Members of the committee include a medical doctor, the company nurse, union representatives, a production representative, a health and safety officer, a training officer, and one IFC Against AIDS officer.
Awareness and Education: Awareness and education is a strong component of Hernic’s HIV/AIDS program. In 2005, Hernic conducted a survey of the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and practices (KAPB) of its staff, and introduced workplace HIV/AIDS information and training sessions. A nurse from the department of health provides the employees with information on the epidemic in periodic training sessions. Condoms are available free of charge from dispensers at the company premises. The company is also working in partnership with non governmental organizations (NGOs) to assist with HIV/AIDS community outreach activities.
Working with IFC Against AIDS: Hernic’s collaboration with IFC Against AIDS started in 2004 when the company requested for assistance in establishing an HIV/AIDS strategy and implementation plan. With guidance from IFC Against AIDS, in 2005 the company developed an HIV/AIDS policy and action plan and relaunched the program.
Future Plans: In implementing its workplace and community program Hernic has planned a number of activities. One is to introduce an on-site voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) service provided free of charge to all employees. Plans are also underway to introduce a medical aid scheme covering HIV/AIDS for staff and their immediate family members.
