Anglo American and Virgin Unite Present Frontline Heroes for Health Award to Rural Community Health Centre, Bhubezi

LONDON, June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of

Anglo American, and Sir Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman of the Virgin
Group, presented the inaugural Frontline Heroes for Health award at the 10th
Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Awards
Dinner, in New York.

The co-sponsored award recognises leadership in community healthcare and
was this year presented to Kgomotso Kwenje and Dr Gilbert Khosa who co-manage
the Bhubezi Community Health Centre in South Africa. Kgomotso and Gilbert
both returned to their rural home town in South Africa after completing their
studies with the intention of boosting the standard of healthcare in their
community.

Bhubezi Community Health Centre, located in Bushbuckridge Mpumalanga,
South Africa, is the result of collaboration between the community,
government and business. Supported by USAID / PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), the South African Department of Health,
Ndlovu Care Group, Anglo American and Virgin Unite, Bhubezi Community Health
Centre is the first to offer basic and specialised healthcare in the region.
Since its establishment in 2007 it has received more than 130,000 patients
and provided more than 3,500 HIV positive patients with anti-retroviral
treatment.

“We are honoured to receive the inaugural Frontline Heroes for Health
award and would like to thank our supporting partners – USAID / PEPFAR, South
African Department of Health, Ndlovu Care Group, Anglo American and Virgin
Unite. We hope that this global recognition will encourage many more
partnerships like ours,” Kgomotso Kwenje said.

“More than 130,000 patients have been treated at our health centre and
this has revolutionised the way our community understands the concept of
healthcare. Importantly, HIV positive patients now recognise that
anti-retroviral treatment can drastically improve their quality of life. We
look forward to continuing our work to ensure all healthcare facilities
receive anti-retroviral treatment,” Dr Gilbert Khosa said.

Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American, commented: “ Anglo
American is delighted to recognise the achievements of the Bhubezi Community
Health Centre at this year’s Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria awards dinner. Its success emphasises the power of
effective collaboration between business, the community and government to
strengthen healthcare systems. We remain committed to fostering deep
partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders so that we can continue to
drive positive outcomes in health and we acknowledge that this demands a
coordinated response.”

Dr Brian Brink, Chief Medical Officer, Anglo American, and based in South
Africa, commented:

“ Anglo American acknowledges that improving the social and economic
prosperity of communities rests with improving healthcare. Building on the
success of partnerships like Bhubezi Community Health Centre will be critical
as we continue to improve our response to long-standing healthcare issues and
particularly women’s health and rights, because women and girls remain
particularly vulnerable to HIV infection.”

Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group of Companies, commented:
“Gilbert and Kgomotso both realised that local people would have to step up
to the plate in the fight against the twin scourge of HIV and TB and we
commend them for their tireless commitment. For Anglo American and Virgin
Unite, we feel the true spirit and passion comes from the frontline heroes
who are at the heart and soul of so many of our efforts in supporting and
uplifting communities around the world. It’s a joy for Virgin Unite to be
part of the Bhubezi Community Health Centre partnership.”

Melinda Wilson, Division Leader for HIV Care and Treatment, USAID South
Africa commented: “We are happy that the recipients of this award are part of
our program in South Africa and that USAID and the U.S. President’s Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief has been a part of this effective public-private
partnership.”

Anglo American is a platinum sponsor of the 10th Anniversary GBC Health
Conference and Awards Dinner. The GBC brings together more than 500 business
executives, policy makers, thought leaders and celebrities to discuss the
corporate response to global health challenges.

A video of Bhubezi Community Health Centre is available at
http://www.angloamerican.com

Notes to editors

Further information about Anglo American’s health programmes

– In 2002, Anglo American was the first major employer to begin offering
free antiretroviral treatment to all its employees and, in December 2008,

Anglo American extended this benefit to employees’ direct dependants. This
decision was based largely on the understanding that HIV/AIDS cannot be
effectively managed when only one family member receives care for a disease
that affects the whole family.

– Anglo American’s world-leading HIV/AIDS response, providing the largest
free HIV and AIDS workplace and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT)
programme, has been held up as best practice by the Global Business Coalition
on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

– Anglo American’s recent progress was rewarded by the Global Business
Coalition (GBC) on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria at the organisation’s
Business Excellence Awards in June 2009, where the company’s Thermal Coal
business was recognised as having the best HIV/AIDS workplace programme in
the world.

– The GBC Awards are earned by companies that have demonstrated
extraordinary commitment, action and results, and have achieved exceptional
success in putting their assets to work in the fight against HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria.

– Anglo American’s 2009 international employee HIV/AIDS campaign detailed
the company’s response in the areas of eliminating the stigma and
discrimination related to the disease. The programme also focuses on
preventing new infections, the provision of care and confidential support for
employees and their dependants infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and
managing and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on operations. In so doing,

Anglo American is making a positive contribution towards minimising the
social, economic and developmental consequences of the epidemic.

– Workplace programmes are in place at all Group operations and business
units, with activity particularly focused in southern Africa, where HIV
prevalence figures are estimated at 18% of the region’s workforce.

– Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business received the top award in the
‘Workplace Category’ for its holistic approach to HIV/AIDS and was commended
by the judges for “its comprehensive, robust and evidence-based approach to
managing HIV and AIDS in the workplace; coupled with the outstanding
leadership and commitment of the company’s management and leadership team.”

– Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases is one of the eight
United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and 2010 represents an
important milestone in the progress of this initiative.

Notes to editors:

Anglo American plc is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is
headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock
exchanges. Anglo American’s portfolio of mining businesses spans precious
metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and
diamonds; base metals – copper and nickel; and bulk commodities – iron ore,
metallurgical coal and thermal coal. Anglo American is committed to the
highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and
geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the
communities around its operations. The company’s mining operations and
extensive pipeline of growth projects are located in southern Africa, South
America, Australia, North America and Asia. http://www.angloamerican.com

About Virgin Unite:

Virgin Unite is the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group. We unite
people to tackle tough social and environmental problems in an
entrepreneurial way. Our aim is to help revolutionize the way business,
governments and the social sector work together – driving business as a force
for good. This is based on the belief that this is the only way we can tackle
the scale and urgency of the challenges facing the world today. Virgin
Unite’s overheads are covered by Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group,
meaning that 100% of additional donations received go direct to the frontline
where they are needed most. For more information please visit
http://www.virginunite.com.

Follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/virginunite.

Join the movement on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virgin-Unite

SOURCE Virgin Unite and Anglo American plc