Quality health care for employees is a primary concern for Universal, especially in regions where health and medical care options are limited. Therefore, we have established health clinics and programs to assist our employees, as well as members of the community, in some of the developing areas in which we operate. One example of this is the outreach conducted by our Mozambique affiliate, Mozambique Leaf Tobacco Limitada (MLT).

At Universal, we take the issue of access to clean water to heart. While water is often taken for granted by many people throughout the world who are able to take long showers, and water their flowerbeds by simply opening their faucets. This is not the case for millions of people in rural Africa. Public water distribution is a reality that usually exists only in cities and towns. At Universal, we work with thousands of smallholder tobacco farmers in Africa who have to rely on rain, natural streams and rivers, wells, and small dams for their water supply. Unfortunately, the luxuries of having faucets and toilets inside their homes are non-existent.

To help provide safe and clean drinking water in the communities where we work, our affiliates have implemented projects to drill boreholes where locals can access water close to home.

Every year, Mozambique Leaf Tobacco Limitada (MLT) undertakes the construction of new boreholes equipped with hand pumps. In 2015, MLT installed two boreholes in the communities of Nungo in the Marrupa District and the Joho School in the Mandimba District. In 2016, the company plans to provide an additional four boreholes.

In Malawi, our affiliate, Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company (LLTC), has installed several boreholes which benefit a total of 1,821 people.

The boreholes improve the quality of the water and its accessibility. This improves health thereby reducing health care costs. It also decreases the risk of child labor by greatly reducing the distance families have to travel to access water. Improving water access increases overall quality of life which is critical for economic growth.

Recognizing the need for better healthcare in rural Mozambique, a clinic was initiated in 2004. Our affiliate Mozambique Leaf Tobacco Limitada (MLT) took over the project and completed it in 2006. The Khamande Clinic opened its doors to the community that year.

Today the clinic features a pharmacy; family planning and vaccinations program; treatment room; consultation room; maternity ward; storeroom; theater; and doctor's house. The clinic serves approximately 16,245 people from 4,727 families. About 2,300 of these are farming families.