Apollo Tyres recognised for HIV-AIDS initiative

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Gurgaon, India - Apollo Tyres has received a special commendation for community investment for its HIV-AIDS programme.

The Indian company was honoured at the Global Business Coalition (GBC) Business Action on Health Awards 2011.

GBC Health, headquartered in New York, is the official private sector focal point for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Every year GBC Health recognises companies which exemplify the spirit of innovation and dedication towards improving global health, Apollo Tyres said in a 1 Sept announcement.

Apollo Tyres has been awarded for continued and meaningful engagement with its stakeholders, and adopting a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for the implementation of its HIV-AIDS initiative, including sexually transmitted infections (STI).

As of March 2011, Apollo Tyres said that through its peer educator, supply chain and workplace sensitisation drives, had reached 870117 people, treated 28 467 STIs and counselled 67 483 patients.

The company's HIV-AIDS programme -- supported by a carefully cultivated network of 885 peer educators and 45 master trainers -- has benefited almost 7500 Apollo employees and over 9400 employees of business partners with its focused communication on prevention, awareness and behaviour change, Apollo said in the statement.

“Our 1st health care centre was established in 2000 at a large transshipment hub on the outskirts of Delhi. Then the centre looked at awareness and prevention of HIV-AIDS and general health within the commercial vehicle community,” commented Onkar Kanwar, Apollo Tyres chairman.

He added, “Over the years, this initiative has grown to 18 community focused Health Care Centres, each of which treats about 200 patient per month. We now plan to introduce a Tuberculosis Prevention programme at each of these centres.”

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Press release from Apollo Tyres