Southern Africa - Sappi

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22 Key People issues There are 493 known cases of HIV/AIDS in Sappi Southern Africa Of the above, 273 employees are currently on anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment We involve contractors in the HIV/AIDS programme by training contractor peer educators who are then fully incorporated in the Sappi peer educator programme. Sappi offers Counselling and Testing (C & T) to the contractors and then refers them to the appropriate treatment centre if the employee is HIV-positive. Sappi also assists contractors with TB testing and referral for treatment to the Department of Health. Sappi’s employee wellbeing (EWB) outreach programmes (which cover HIV/AIDS education, alcohol information, general health information from scabies to TB and mental health) focus on truckstops at each mill in order to reach the contractor drivers. Sustainability Report 2011 Health and wellbeing We support, engage and facilitate wellbeing programmes to increase the health and productivity of employees both at work and in their personal lives. Programmes include annual anti-flu immunisations, antismoking and breast cancer awareness, drug and alcohol abuse counselling and nutrition management. HIV/AIDS UNAIDS estimates that globally there are 33.3 million people living with HIV. An estimated 5.6 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country (http:// www.avert.org/aidssouthafrica.htm). As a result, the South African Government launched a major HIV counselling and testing campaign (C & T) in 2010. Since implementation, the C & T campaign has had a notable impact on the availability and uptake of HIV testing and treatment. Against this backdrop HIV/ AIDS forms an important part of our health and ‘employee wellbeing’ programme in Southern Africa. Education is carried out by making communication materials available in various languages at all sites. Nominated Sappi employees, who have been trained, act as peer educators and present education programmes focused on changing behavioural patterns in the workplace and surrounding communities. The ratio of peer educators to employees is approximately 1:50, although this ratio changes according to needs and circumstances. Testing is the entry point of our preventative care and support programme. Approximately 56% of employees in SA voluntarily check their HIV/AIDS status on an annual basis. In 2011, we conducted our fourth comprehensive prevalence study in which 80% of staff participated. This indicated a prevalence rate of 14.5%, compared with a benchmark of the South African workforce of 19.2%. Our onsite clinics are responsible for disease management and treatment. From August 2002, medical care for employees included the provision of treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission and antiretroviral treatment was offered to HIV-infected employees from the beginning of 2003. The beneficiaries of employees who belong to medical aid schemes also have access to the HIV/AIDS benefit. Where employees resign or are retrenched, cases of known HIV/AIDS patients are handed over to the local clinic to ensure continuity of treatment. Mortality rates of the Sappi employees in Southern Africa have declined steadily over the last five years and compare well with the national mortality rate of 2%. Mortality rate (National Mortality Rate: 2%) 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 HIV/AIDS outreach programmes Sappi’s outreach programmes include: • Support for the Blessed Gerard’s Care Centre in the Mandeni area near Sappi’s Tugela Mill in KwaZulu-Natal, funded by a US government initiative. To ensure sustainability and uniformity of the treatment programme in the area, Sappi makes an annual financial contribution to the centre. Sappi employees who qualify for anti-retrovirals (ARVs) are incorporated into the centre’s HIV/AIDS drug readiness courses which are based on the ‘buddy’ system and treatment is provided for employees’ partners who qualify. This system has proved to be very effective in maintaining adherence to the ARV treatment programme. • Support for Wethemba KwaJesu centre situated in the town of Stanger near Stanger Mill in KwaZulu-Natal. Wethemba KwaJesu’s services include access to voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), training of volunteers and assistance with ARV roll out – specifically treatment literacy and adherence. • We focus on identifying risks that could lead to the increase in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the company.
Testimony from a Sappi employee “When I found out about my status I was devastated like any one would be, I cried the whole evening. All I could think about is dying (did not know that I fear death that much). I felt better the next day. One of the things that made me feel better was the words from Sister, ‘I am negative, I could be bumped by a car tomorrow and die,’ she said. She gave me all the support that she could, together with Priscilla from Qualsa, such as doing blood tests every six months and giving advice on the medication to take. She was the only one who knew about my status at the time. I disclosed to my partner after three days (that is when we saw each other after the test). That was another tough evening. Luckily she/he accepted the situation and got tested the following week and the results were positive. We supported each other. One of the things that helps me to be strong and live a positive life is reading articles about the virus and be knowledgeable about it and not being in denial. Also when I am with a group of friends and the topic about the virus comes up, I participate and give the information that I have even though I did not disclose to them. After the discussions I feel much better.” Sustainability Report 2011 23
Page 1 and 2: Southern Africa Sustainability Repo
Page 3 and 4: Message from Ralph Boëttger “Sap
Page 5 and 6: Message from Alex Thiel In South Af
Page 7 and 8: South African operations Cape Town
Page 9 and 10: Ngodwana Mill produces elemental ch
Page 11 and 12: 3a Lean manufacturing We use lean m
Page 13 and 14: Five-year targets (2011 - 2015) The
Page 15 and 16: Planet (%) 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 10 (%
Page 17 and 18: The Sinawo and Mkambathi projects A
Page 19 and 20: Usutu We currently operate the Loma
Page 21 and 22: Safety training and communication a
Page 23: Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate 200
Page 27 and 28: Key projects include: • Founded i
Page 29 and 30: Going forward, the transaction whic
Page 31 and 32: Assisting with land reform projects
Page 33 and 34: Making the Difference through Desig
Page 35 and 36: Internationally recognised fibre ce
Page 37 and 38: Energy and emissions Energy costs f
Page 39 and 40: Specific scope 1 + scope 2 emission
Page 41 and 42: Products In an increasingly environ
Page 43 and 44: Sappi realises that sustainability

Southern Africa - Sappi

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