HIV/AIDS Awareness and Health Campaigns

Paladin HIV/AIDS Awareness programmes continued in local communities. Four new booklets written by Paladin Social Development Officer Robyn Nottingham have been translated into three local languages and distributed to the Kayelekera Mine employees and the community.  A total of 22 booklets have been published, covering social topics including HIV/AIDS prevention; malaria and chest infection management, dealing with alcohol abuse; care of the new born; prevention of diarrhoea; combating deforestation; theft and corruption and wise use of wages. These booklets have proven hugely popular due to the highly relevant subject matter and the novelty of having reading material available in local languages. In the past 12 months, Paladin has distributed more than 70,000 copies to employees, students and local communities.

Paladin continues to use drama – a traditional art and teaching form – to promote social messaging through its sponsorship of the Nyange Nyange Drama Group, which regularly perform HIV dramas and in the community. During the past year, the Company sponsored Nyange Nyange to perform for 59 primary schools in the Karonga District, reaching 43,300 students.

The Company’s social development team has established co-operative relationships with locally-active NGOs with expertise in HIV/AIDS community engagement.

In the interests of improving access to medical facilities in Kayelekera Village, Paladin and the Department of Health entered into discussions to expand upon the Paladin-supported weekly outpatient clinic in the village. The outcome was a commitment from the Department to establish a sub-clinic in Kayelekera to provide access to the full range of government programmes. Paladin will facilitate establishing the clinic and provide housing for two clinic staff in the village. Land has been allocated for this purpose.