Each year on 1 December the medical team at MMG’s Kinsevere copper mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) joins with the social team to help reduce the stigma of HIV infection.

Kinsevere marked 2016 World AIDS Day with a series of presentations by a man who was diagnosed with HIV 13 years ago. He met with more than 1,500 people working on the site and his message was simple: ‘AIDS exists but sufferers can live with it.’

“At MMG Kinsevere we are committed to zero new transmissions and zero discrimination,” said Safety Health Environment and Community Manager Alan Tatton.

World AIDS Day is also a time to make a firm commitment to sustain the achievements of the last five years and to do more in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

In 2010 when the MMG Kinsevere AIDS Awareness Program began, less than five percent of Kinsevere employees knew their HIV status. Now, after a program of testing and education, approximately 95 percent of employees know their status.

“Our focus in 2017 is on empowering you and your families in the fight against HIV/AIDS. MMG Kinsevere will continue to provide a service for people to know their status, to ensure all have access to the correct medical treatment and to continue our commitment to zero new transmissions and zero discrimination,” Alan said.

Employees supporting the HIV/AIDS Program have been trained according to international standards, and 100 percent of positive patients who are employees have been provided Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) as part of a confidential treatment plan.

The UNAIDS Prevention Gap Report shows that worldwide an estimated 1.9 million adults have become infected with HIV every year for at least the past five years. It’s time that we all raised a hand for HIV prevention.

Pictured: Employees at Kinsevere draw the HIV symbol on their hands to express their support for the fight against HIV/AIDS in the workplace.