The Mozal project, a $1.4 billion aluminum smelter in Mozambique, is one of the largest investments by the IFC in Sub-Saharan Africa ($120 million). In 2000, IFC Against AIDS supported with US$100,000 the continuation of an initiative undertaken by the Mozal Community Development Trust (MCDT): an innovative awareness and prevention program in the community, reaching 200,000 people.
At Mozal facilities: Internal HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives reaching out to the company's workforce have been conducted through a range of communication media, e.g. toolbox talks, newsletter articles, posters and peer educators. The company has provided T-shirts printed with the slogan ‘Play Safe with a Condom’ to all its employees along with booklets and leaflets providing general awareness information on prevention, living positively with HIV/AIDS and the availability of support and counseling in the local community. Condom dispensers are placed throughout the plant with condoms freely available. Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services are also available on site and outside the company's premises, and actively promoted. Click here (PDF) for more information.
IFC and the MCDT also supported the training of 100 field officers for the Total Control of Epidemics (TCE) program, which spreads AIDS awareness among 200,000 people in Mozal’s communities. The program is implemented by ADPP, the Mozambican chapter of the international movement HUMANA People to People. TCE 1 was initiated in the Boane/Matola area in November 2000 and was expanded in September 2001 with TCE 2 to Costa de Sol/Polana Canico area. US$200,000 were used on AIDS prevention for the 200,000 people targeted in both areas: Boane District and downtown Maputo city.
Each TCE field officer reached out to 2,000 people of those communities with messages and campaigns on AIDS awareness, education, and prevention, as well as information on caring for orphans and other vulnerable groups affected by the disease. ADPP has also been running a VCT center for HIV in the Boane area
