We’re helping to win the war on malaria in Africa

As part of our commitment to sustainability, wherever we operate around the world we work towards achieving our Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Our SDG 3 states that we commit to: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages: ‘By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.’

That’s important because HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are the major causes of communicable disease-related death rates around the world.

We’re actively working towards achieving SDG 3 in Mozambique, where our Mozal Aluminium Smelter team is working to minimise the risk of malaria among our people and our contractors, and their families in the local community.

This includes includes spraying and fogging work areas, improving drainage, and applying larvacides to standing water, to stop mosquitoes from breeding and keep them out of our workplaces. We’ve also installed gauze screens on windows and external doors, and everyone on site has access to personal insect repellent.

When new people join our team, we teach them about malaria and personal protection measures, and the information is displayed around the workplace and discussed in safety meetings, toolbox talks and seasonal campaigns.

There are also qualified medical people at Mozal, who are available to examine, test and treat people who present with symptoms. Our management teams keep a close eye on the malaria statistics too.

All of these measures have been very successful, with a massive 58% reduction in malaria incidence at Mozal from 2013 to 2016. We know the battle isn’t won yet, so we’ll keep working with community and private organisations to achieve our goals.