Corporate Partnership Fights Malaria in Guinea

In many countries, HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis place enormous stress on already overburdened health systems and contribute to the loss of key workers and sharply increase insurance benefits costs, absenteeism, recruitment and re-training costs. PSI has partnered with multinational corporations, such as Alcoa, to reduce the impact of these problems on companies and their workers, families and communities through the implementation of tailored health programs. Alcoa issued the following press release announcing the expansion of its partnership with PSI.

PITTSBURGH, PA, July 16, 2004 - Alcoa Foundation today announced it has invested $200,000 in a two-year program implemented by Population Services International (PSI) to fight malaria in Boke prefecture in Guinea. The Alcoa Foundation grant will be used to launch a campaign to train healthcare workers in malaria prevention and to distribute subsidized, insecticide-treated bed-nets. Malaria infection is the number one cause of low birth weight in children and death for children under five. It is also a major cause of lost workdays and diminished productivity for the Guinean economy.

Since 2001, Alcoa Foundation has invested $707,786 to improve the quality of life in Guinea by addressing major health issues affecting the population, including HIV/AIDS and malaria. With the active involvement of Alcoa management, private-public partnerships have been built with the Ministry of Health, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and non-governmental organizations to develop systemic and sustainable solutions. Alcoa has worked closely with NGOs like PSI and has encouraged collaborations to raise awareness on illness prevention and to strengthen the public health system's capacity to provide treatment.

PSI will collaborate with the Guinean Ministry of Health, USAID, and EngenderHealth, to link malaria prevention to other maternal and child health activities, such as child immunizations, thus broadening the scope and effectiveness of its anti-malaria efforts. USAID will match Alcoa Foundation's malaria prevention grant and will evaluate the project for further funding based on the results.

Alcoa's presence in Guinea is as managing partner of Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee (CBG). Alcoa also holds an equity position in Halco Mining, which is a majority owner of CBG.

About Alcoa Foundation
Established in 1952, Alcoa Foundation is a global resource that actively invests in improving the quality of life in more than 32 countries around the world where Alcoa operates. The Foundation's grants address global and local needs in Areas of Excellence that include: Conservation and Sustainability, Global Education and Workplace Skills, Business and Community Partnerships and Safe and Healthy Children and Families. Alcoa Foundation manages the ACTION and Bravo! employee volunteer programs. For more information about Alcoa Foundation, visit www.alcoa.com, under Community.

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