In 2005, an estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV. An estimated 4.1 million became newly infected with HIV and about 2.8 million lost their lives to AIDS and related opportunistic illnesses including tuberculosis. TB is the leading infectious killer of people living with HIV, and accounts for an estimated 13% of AIDS deaths worldwide. HIV/AIDS impacts Africa more than any other continent. About 65% of all infected individuals worldwide, or 24.5 million people, live in sub-Saharan Africa. More than 12 million HIV/AIDS orphans live in Africa.
	A critical imperative Around 19 000 (83%) of our employees work in southern Africa in countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. Effectively managing HIV/AIDS and how it impacts these employees and the communities around our operations is of vital significance to the way we work. HIV/AIDS is addressed in both our Principles and through a separate Global HIV and AIDS Policy. The family of companies is committed to addressing HIV/AIDS in a positive, supportive and non-discriminatory manner. We aim to minimise the social, economic and developmental consequences of HIV/AIDS, including stigma, through comprehensive and appropriate workplace programmes. We also provide leadership in implementing such programmes in collaboration with stakeholders. Our strategic approach to HIV/AIDS invests in people. It has four key objectives: To save lives by preventing new infections and motivating behavioural change To extend the productive lives of employees and their life partners living with HIV/AIDS by providing treatment, care and support To minimise the socio-economic impacts of HIV/AIDS through a comprehensive Disease Management Programme (DMP) To establish mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders in HIV/AIDS management Involvement of senior management An HIV/AIDS Operating Committee was established in August 2005. The initial role of the committee was to determine the HIV/AIDS strategy for De Beers in South Africa, and to direct and manage the activities of the community HIV/AIDS programme. The committee now coordinates and communicates best practice and consistent HIV/AIDS programmes across the family of companies including Debswana and Namdeb in Botswana and Namibia respectively. It provides structured communications to all stakeholders and facilitates participation and cooperation on HIV/AIDS matters with governments, national and international organisations and other stakeholders. The committee is chaired by Jonathan Oppenheimer. It met three times in 2005 and has met six times since its inception.