BHP Billiton has announced to give a US$25 million grant to a program aimed to improve the health of women and young children in Africa. PATH, an international non profit organisation, will run this program. PATH is dedicated towards creating sustainable, culturally relevant solutions to address different issues related to women and child health.
The grant will be provided by BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities which is a charity established by BHP Billiton as part of its community investment program. The project that has been selected for the grant is ‘Window of Opportunity’ project that will continue for a period of five years. The project will be implemented to improve critical health and development services for pregnant women and young children to two years of age in South Africa and Mozambique.
Working with governmental and civil society partners, the PATH program will focus on improving antenatal and newborn care, infant nutrition, child development practices, and the quality of health services and provision, as well as fostering community engagement with the improved services.
BHP Billiton South Africa Chairman, Xolani Mkhwanazi, said BHP Billiton was proud to be part of a project that will reach 750,000 women and children.
“BHP Billiton has an overriding commitment to sustainable development everywhere we operate and we are pleased to be a part of this important project that will impact positively on the lives of women and young children in South Africa and Mozambique.”
