15th International AIDS Conference Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. MoOrD1023)

Gahimbaza L, Borght S, Rijckborst H
Brarudi, Bujumbura, Burundi

BACKGROUND: Brarudi is one of the Heineken breweries in Burundi, one of the poorest countries in the world (GPN 130 USD per capita). The HIV seroprevalence is 19.8 in the urban areas and 11.3 in the whole country. Since september 2001, Brarudi assisted by Heineken International has decides to give High Active Antiretroviral Therapy to his workers and families with AIDS. One could think that the cost of the treatment is very high. This abstract shows the real cost of the program 27 mounts after its beginning

METHODS: We have made a calculation of the training fees, the costs of the drugs and the lab follow up. We have also checked if the program has some benefits especially a decreasing of the hospitalisations, medical rest and mortality caused by AIDS, the possible increasing of the voluntary testing.

RESULTS: 42 persons are included in the program among a population of 1111 (602 workers +509 spouses). The total cost is: 75 245 Euro (62 045 for drugs, 7 927 for training and 4 282 for lab follow up. The increasing of medical expenses in 2002 compared with 2003 was 5 233 Euro, 4016 Euro for 2003 compared with 2002. The benefits of the program was a decreasing of: hospitalizations for OI: 20 hospitalizations per year (1997-2000), 10 in 2001, 6 in 2002 and only 2 in 2003 deaths of workers by AIDS: 11 per year (11997 -2000), 2 in 2001, 1 in 2002 and 0 in 2003 medical rest for OI: 640 in 2001, 407 in 2002, 360 in 2003. Increasing of voluntary testing: an average of 13 per year (1997-2000), 123 in 2001, 140 in 2002 and 243 in 2003. Conclusion The expenses incured in the program are not high compared with the benefits especially the decreasing of the morbidity and mortality. After 2 years, we can realise that the final result of a company can not be much affected by such a program. We recommand to other companies working in countries with limited ressources to conside the possibility of giving antiretroviral therapy to their workers and/or their families.

040711
MoOrD1023

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