At the Heineken HIV/AIDS symposium held in Amsterdam, Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO Heineken N.V., announced that the Heineken Africa Foundation has initiated three new projects focused on HIV/AIDS in communities where the company operates.
PharmAccess African Studies to Evaluate Resistance, Nigeria: PASER is managed by the PharmAccess Foundation and is the largest coordinated effort in sub-Saharan Africa to monitor HIV drug resistance. Six African countries hosting 15 clinics, laboratories and research institutions will be collecting data on emerging HIV drug resistance. With Heineken’s funding, Nigeria will now be added to this study.
Bonnes Routes!, Democratic Republic of Congo- this program will support two existing road wellness clinics in Lukala and Bukavu in Northern DRC. They will provide curative and preventative health services to more than 25,000 employees of transportation companies and other community members each year. They will also provide HIV prevention guidance and ultimately HIV treatment, as well as basic health care services.
Project King’s Hope, South Africa- this ongoing project run by the King’s Hope Development Foundation will be able to improve the accessibility of healthcare to HIV patients in the area of Olievenhoutbosch in the Gauteng Province, specifically palliative care.
“These three new HIV/AIDS projects supported by the Heineken Africa Foundation will play a small but meaningful role in helping to continue the fight against the disease in sub-Saharan Africa. They will help address the ongoing challenge of HIV/AIDS by increasing knowledge, extending preventative support and providing treatment to those who are suffering,” said van Boxmeer.
Ben Knapen, the Netherlands Minister for European Affairs and International Co-operation said “my government believes that public-private partnerships are an important tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Bringing together partners from both the public and private sectors creates the synergy and leverage we need in order to step up our efforts.”
The HIV/AIDS symposium is part of the “Heineken Cares” initiative, under the umbrella of the company’s long-term sustainability approach “Brewing a Better Future.”
