The employees of the Rössing Uranium Mine at Arandis near Swakopmund, recently participated in an HIV Prevalence Survey. The aim of the survey was to gather information on the prevalence of HIV among the employees so that the Company can focus its efforts to maintain and improve the health status of its employees.

A total of 715 employees (or 88% of the total work force) each provided a saliva sample on a voluntary as well as anonymous basis, which means that the name and company number of the employees were not requested. It is thus not possible to identify any of the HIV positive cases.

The results of the survey released on Friday, 23 May 2003 to all employees indicated that 92.6% of the employees who participated in the survey were found to be free of HIV.

Dr Clive Evian of AIDS Management and Support, based in South Africa, conducted the survey. The results of the HIV Prevalence Survey were made known simultaneously to the Company Management and Union Executive Committee members. Of those surveyed, 7.4% of the employees were found to be HIV antibody positive.

Rössing Management sympathises with the employees who are HIV positive and encourages them to make use of the current support and counseling services provided by the Company. At the same time the Company management encourages the HIV-free employees to continue a healthy lifestyle.

With this data the size and distribution of the Company’s HIV risk is now known. This is valuable data for the Company in planning for good employee health care and support and management of employee benefits as well as aligning the existing HIV/AIDS prevention and management projects as part of its Wellness Programme. Employees who are HIV positive qualify for comprehensive treatment and support under our current medical aid cover.