Vital Health Foods supports a uniform, fair and compassionate approach to HIV and AIDS. Vital is committed to create a climate in which HIV/AIDS may be addressed in a sensitive and fearless manner.

Vital HIV / AIDS Support:

Education: HIV / AIDS education is the most effective way of preventing the spread of the disease as well as managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Vital employees are therefore exposed to HIV / AIDS education on a continuing basis. Vital has a team of 6 peer educators doing continuous HIV / AIDS awareness training at Vital and in their own communities.

Know your status: Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is conducted by the company’s Occupational Health Nurse, including pre- and post- test counselling. We have had great success in encouraging our staff to know their status, especially with the introduction of the company’s confidentiality policy regarding HIV status.

Nutritional support: Nutritional supplements that support the immune system are made available to all employees.

VITAL FAMILY DAY
On the 21st of October 2006, Vital hosted a Vital Family day, where Vital staff members and their children participated in educational activities regarding HIV and AIDS. The Vital Family day also included an HIV / AIDS children’s artwork competition, which is incorporated into this calendar.

SIVE NATHI
As part of Vital’s social responsibility, we have given our support to the children at the Sive Nathi home for AIDS orphans and physically and mentally disabled children in Blackheath in the form of donations, clothing, toys, Christmas presents and nutritional supplements.

ATHLONE HOUSE
Vital has given financial support to the Athlone house for abused women and children, to help establish a counselling centre and facilities where skills training and other empowerment programmes are implemented.

DRAKENSTEIN HOSPICE
Drakenstein Hospice provides care to terminally ill cancer patients as well as AIDS sufferers. Vital hosts the “Vital Spring Classic” fundraising golf day annually in November in aid of Drakenstein Hospice. Over the past few years, we have been able to raise up to in excess of R120 000 per year, assisting Drakenstein Hospice in providing facilities to care for their patients.

BISHOPS SPONSORSHIP
Vital will give a scholarship to one child every year to attend Bishops High School in Cape Town. The sponsorship/scholarship is worth R2,5 million and runs over a 5 year period.