PRESS RELEASE: The initiative was announced by Andile Sangqu, chamber vice president, in his address at the Walter Sisulu University Stadium in Mthatha.

The R1.8 million (US$131,000) initiative is being carried out in partnership with EOH, Africa’s largest technology service provider, together with the South African Business Coalition on Health and AIDS (SABCOHA).

The health screening programme will include:

• HIV counselling and testing;
• Tuberculosis (TB) screening;
• Glucose (sugar) measurement;
• Blood pressure measurement; and
• Height and weight measurement.

The Chamber of Mines has committed R500,000 to the province to be utilised for tracking and tracing ex-mineworkers with unclaimed retirement fund and compensation benefits. These funds will bolster existing initiatives.

Sangqu referred to one of these existing initiatives, the Masoyise iTB campaign, which is a joint exercise between government, unions and the industry to ensure that every miner is tested for HIV and screened for TB once a year.

He noted: “Success is being achieved through collaboration and cooperation. I would like to particularly recognise and appreciate the leadership of the Department of Health under the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, and the unflinching commitment from Dr Barry Kistnasamy, the compensation commissioner. For both TB and HIV/AIDS, and improving access to unclaimed benefits, their support has been unstinting.”