Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Reuters NewMedia - Friday October 13, 2000
Ellis Mnyandu

The move, the first of its kind by a major private South African company, contrasts with the government's reluctance to provide the public health sector with anti-retroviral drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Pick & Pay Director Wendy Ackerman told Reuters the drug would be available immediately to any employee with HIV/AIDS, including rape victims and pregnant HIV pregnant women.

She declined to give details on what cost the company would incur.

"We're obviously not going to force this on anyone. All we're going to say is that it's available free of charge through the company for any one of our corporate staff," she said.

The South African government has come under criticism for its policy on HIV/AIDS.

President Thabo Mbeki has questioned the predominant scientific view linking the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

He has also cast doubt on the efficacy of antiretroviral drugs to treat the virus.

Ackerman said that Pick & Pay -- which employs around 30,000 people -- had trained its occupational health officers to provide counseling and advice on the use of the drug.

"We believe that as nothing is being done on the government side, if we could save one child's life and give one child a good quality of life we would be doing a service to the community," Ackerman added.

"I'm not criticizing (the) government, they just may be ill-advised," she said.

S.Africa At Epicentre Of Aids Pandemic

South Africa is at the epicenter of a global AIDS epidemic that experts agree poses one of the biggest threats to the future of the national economy.

An estimated 1,700 new HIV infections occur each day in the country, adding to the ranks of around 4.3 million South Africans already afflicted by the disease.

Antiretroviral drugs such as Glaxo-Wellcome's(GLXO.L) AZT inhibit the development of HIV into AIDS and are credited with reducing the development of HIV in rape victims and reducing mother-to-child transmission in pregnant women.

Mbeki has, however, said that there is no scientific proof that antiretrovirals prevent HIV infection or transmission and has accused drug firms of trying to profit from the misery of Africans.

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang also argues that the drugs are too costly, estimating that South Africa would have to spend 288 billion rand ($38 billion) annually if it were to sponsor AZT for all those infected with the virus.

"I hope the government will follow suit and give pregnant mothers the option of choosing whether they want AZT before their babies are born," Ackerman said.

"The company feels it can afford to give this kind of support to our staff. We employ some people who cannot afford to be on a medical aid (scheme)," she added.

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