DEBSWANA, the first mining company in the world to offer free anti-retroviral treatment to its HIV positive employees and spouses, has now extended the programme to its employees� children up to age 21. The mining company currently has over 700 people registered on its corporate-funded anti-retroviral treatment (ART) programme

The programme has adherence rates of above 90 per cent, due mainly to the close management of and support for the registered participants. This is translating into direct benefits for the company, as there is a decline in the trends of deaths from AIDS-related conditions, ill-health retirements and productive time lost to illness since the treatment programme was introduced in 2001. The company pays for the medical and support staff at both facilities while the Botswana government provides the drugs, and covers the pathology costs