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 About the company: Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Nigeria is part of the South African based MTN Group, one of Africa’s leading cellular telecommunications companies. The group operates Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) networks in six countries: South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Rwanda, Swaziland and Uganda.
MTN Nigeria commenced operations on May 16, 2001 as the country’s first GSM network. To date, the company has invested over US$1.8 billion in building Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications infrastructure. MTN now provides services in 223 cities and towns and more than 10,000 villages across Nigeria’s 36 states. The MTN Group reported that by June 30, 2005, it had recorded over 17 million subscribers on its six networks in Africa.
HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS epidemic has raised concern because of the country’s large population of over 120 million. According to the 2005 report of the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), between 3.2 and 3.6 million people are living with HIV in Nigeria, the third highest country case count after South Africa and India. In 2002, the US based National Intelligence Council (NIC) named Nigeria together with Russia, India, China and Ethiopia as the countries representing the next wave of HIV/AIDS. NIC estimates that by 2010, Nigeria could have anywhere from 10 to 15 million HIV cases if no serious mobilization materializes. The country faces many challenges in terms of the AIDS epidemic: poverty, lack of empowerment of women and girls, the vulnerability of youth with 60% of the population under 24, and strong stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
HIV/AIDS program: MTN Nigeria has put in place an extensive workplace and community HIV/AIDS program. Launched in October 2004, the AIDS program of MTN Nigeria seeks innovative ways to contribute to the reduction of HIV infections among staff, their families and communities through policies, capacity building, and strategies to reduce stigma and discrimination, while promoting risk-reduction behaviors. The internal program extends to all staff and their families in the company’s telephone network coverage areas.
A focal point together with a nine man HIV/AIDS committee manage the implementation of the workplace and community program under the direction of the Corporate Affairs Department. The company has crafted an HIV/AIDS policy in line with the code of conduct of the International Labor Organization on HIV/AIDS, to guide the implementation of the program.
Awareness and Education: MTN Nigeria has put in place a robust awareness and education program. In December 2004, with the help of Hope Worldwide Nigeria, a local Non Governmental Organization (NGO), the company conducted a survey to assess anonymously the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Behaviors (KAPB) of the employees on HIV/AIDS. A total of 220 peer educators have been recruited and trained, a ratio of about one peer educator for every 10 employees. Currently peer educators undergo a three day training program at the end of which they develop a work plan of how to implement activities in their units. The company employs approximately 2,000 employees in Nigeria and already 30% of them have been reached by peer educators.
Induction training for new staff includes information on HIV/AIDS and a bi-weekly update on the HIV/AIDS program is provided to all staff via postmaster. MTN has introduced two help lines which staff and their families can call to get HIV/AIDS information and advice free of charge 24-hours a day. The help lines are staffed by Health AIDS Support Services (HAAS), another partner of the MTN program. Male and female condoms are provided to staff and community members free of charge during outreach activities and training programs. The company commemorates World AIDS Day on December 1, and uses the event as a platform to enhance awareness of the program among its staff. Several MTN branded HIV/AIDS information, education and communication materials including posters, leaflets, and ribbons have been produced for internal and external outreach activities.
Partnerships: Partnerships are a major component of MTN Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS program. Since the start of the program, the company has partnered with two service providers: Health AIDS Support Services (HASS), a consultancy firm, and HOPE Worldwide Nigeria. HASS has helped MTN to obtain permission from the United States based Johns Hopkins University’s Centre for Communications Programs to adapt a Q&A handbook which the center developed. The handbook, branded with MTN colors, provides basic information on HIV/AIDS and has been distributed to all employees. HASS has identified Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) sites, home based care services and other HIV/AIDS referral sites near MTN sites.
These services have been put into a “Pocket Reference Guide for HIV/AIDS Referrals” to assist the staff in identifying the nearest HIV/AIDS services they may require. HASS is also managing the 24-hour helpline service for MTN and has designed a data card for capturing incoming calls. So far the helpline service receives about 10 calls per month, and the number is expected to increase. Hope Worldwide Nigeria on the other hand has worked with MTN in the training of peer educators, managing the KAPB survey, formulating an HIV/AIDS policy, and providing care and support services.
Care and treatment: MTN Nigeria is implementing a pilot HIV/AIDS care and treatment program which includes provision of Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) for infected staff and their families. The pilot is to eventually lead to a more permanent treatment program. Provision of ART under the pilot is managed by Hope Worldwide Nigeria. However the company has registered a low uptake of drugs by the staff, which Hope Worldwide Nigeria attributes to lack of trust in the anonymity of the services. As arrangements are being made to boost staff confidence in the program, MTN has authorized Hope Worldwide Nigeria to make the drugs available to needy members of the public as well.
Community engagement: Working with the public to contribute to the national efforts to fight the epidemic is a strong component of MTN Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS program. In July 2005, the company started a community HIV/AIDS campaign through the MTN Nigeria Foundation. The campaign which is covering six Nigeria states in the first year includes community outreach activities such as radio and television HIV/AIDS awareness programs, provision of VCT services, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, training of peer educators in schools, supply of immune boosters and supplementary feeding to people living with HIV/AIDS. Apart from VCT where users are expected to pay a token fee of 200 Naira (approximately US$1.5 as of Dec 2005), all other services are provided free of charge by the company under its corporate social responsibility initiative. The fee for VCT is intended to ensure the sustainability of the service.
Working with IFC Against AIDS: IFC Against AIDS has provided MTN Nigeria guidance on their HIV/AIDS action plan, and funding through IFC’s Corporate Citizenship Facility (CCF). IFC contributed US$60,000 for a period of one year to support the MTN program. This money is part of the company’s FY05 budget of 33 million Naira (approximately US$ 235,000) for its HIV/AIDS program.
In collaboration with Hope Worldwide, IFC Against AIDS has conducted HIV/AIDS awareness and education sessions at retreats for managers within the company. To ensure an environment the managers were comfortable in, a separate session was held for general managers and senior managers, and two other separate sessions, one for middle managers and the other for top management. The sessions helped to dispel myths and misconceptions about the disease in Nigeria, and gave the managers an opportunity to discuss and clarify issues. Further, IFC Against AIDS shared with MTN Nigeria its Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tool to assist the company monitor and evaluate its current program.
Future plans: In implementing its HIV/AIDS program, MTN Nigeria has planned the following internal and external activities:
- In collaboration with the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA), and IFC Against AIDS, the company plans to assist Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in implementing HIV/AIDS programs. MTN is considering adapting IFC Against AIDS’ existing SME training program for this purpose.
- The company plans to send computer screen savers bearing HIV/AIDS messages to all staff twice a week.
- MTN has purchased red ribbons and branded them to give to all staff to show the company’s commitment to the program.
- An annual refresher course for peer educators will be offered.
- Finally, MTN plans to shoot a documentary to showcase its HIV/AIDS program.
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