Richard Branson's Virgin Unite will help people in the fight against the spread of HIV AIDS this week by distributing 100,000 free condoms to the Bhubezi and Ndlovu Clinics in the Bushbuckridge area in the Mpumalanga province in South Africa, one of the most impoverished rural areas of South African, where an estimated 20% of the 500,000 people in the community are HIV positive.
The activity sees Virgin Unite, the not for profit foundation of the Virgin Group, take further direct action to tackle the spread of HIV where it matters most and is thanks to their partnership with The One Brand who donated the condoms to the Virgin Unite who will now distribute them.
‘One’ condoms are sold through a number of major UK retailers including The Co-operative and Morrisons with 100% of the profit funding HIV education and prevention projects in rural Africa. Together with the US Government (PEPFAR/USAID), Anglo American Thermal Coal and the Ndlovu Care Group, the South African Government and the local communities, Virgin Unite launched the Bhubezi Clinic. An innovative public-private partnership to tackle HIV/AIDS and improve healthcare in one of the most impoverished rural areas of South Africa where an estimated 20% of the 500,000 people in the community are HIV positive.
Jean Oelwang, CEO of Virgin Unite says: “Everyone has the right to basic healthcare. We are very pleased to be working with the One Foundation who have to generously donated the 100,000 condoms to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. Thanks also to the wonderful doctors and healthcare professionals working in Bhubezi and Ndlovu clinics in South Africa who have dedicated their lives to keeping people healthy. I’m sure these condoms will be a welcome gift”.
