North Mara Gold Mine, Tanzania – Since taking ownership and operational control of the North Mara gold mine in 2019, Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) has more than halved the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among the mine’s workforce and surrounding communities from a high of 3.3% in 2018 to 1.5% last year.
At the same time, new HIV infections have decreased from a high of 16 in 2018 to 10 in 2021 while the rate for all sexually transmitted infections have reduced from a high of 4.78% in 2017 to 2.95% in 2021.
Presenting these improvements to the Tanzanian Parliamentary Standing Committee on HIV/AIDS, which visited the mine today to discuss the company’s HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) interventions, North Mara general manager, Apolinary Lyambiko, said the group’s HIV/AIDS program is focused on raising awareness, encouraging safe sex and promoting Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCTs).
“To this effect, Barrick has a comprehensive HIV/AIDS workplace policy; regularly engages with the District Medical Officer (DMO) and NGOs on its VCT campaigns; distributes free condoms as well as educational brochures, fliers and T-shirts, provided frequent medical check-ups; and conducts air quality and other occupational hygiene monitoring,” he added.
Community-wise, Barrick has initiated a number of awareness campaigns in conjunction with the DMO including two World Aids Day commemorations in 2020 and 2021 and a two-week campaign in 2021. In total, over 4,800 VCTs were conducted, 1,000 units of blood were collected, 1,800 HIV Rapid Test Kits were donated, 134 circumcisions were carried out; 164 cervical cancer screens were done; and thousands of condoms, T-shirts, and awareness brochures have been handed out.
Lyambiko said that diseases like TB and HIV hampered the social and economic development of the company’s host communities and had the potential to negatively impact its operations. “Working to reduce and eliminate these diseases from our communities is therefore not only an important part of our community health strategy but also delivers benefits to the business,” he said.
Enquiries
Country Manager
Georgia Mutagahywa
+255 754 711 215
Georgia.mutagahywa@barrick.com
General Manager
Apolinary Lyambiko
+255 752 278 530
ALyambiko@barrick.com
Investor and Media Relations
Kathy du Plessis
+44 20 7557 7738
barrick@dpapr.com