The Egypt plant also regularly analyzes drinking water to be certain it is safe, and has established aggressive programs for controlling and eradicating mosquitoes and other disease transmitting pests.

The company has also provided first-aid training for its emergency-response staff through the faculty at Assiut University.

At CEMEX, we believe that we cannot be a world leader in our industry without a comprehensive program to keep our people healthy. Therefore, we concentrate on helping to prevent illnesses and diseases.

For example, medical checkups are a key part of our health prevention and care programs, and the number of examinations has increased every year since the corporate health program began in 1994.

Given that we operate in more than 30 countries around the world, we place special emphasis on our Permanent Vaccination Campaign as a means to good health. In 2002, we administered more than 4,530 vaccine doses to CEMEX people.

The greatest number of vaccinations was for influenza, which we administered to CEMEX employees as well as their families. Other vaccines were given to prevent illnesses such as hepatitis A and B, tetanus, rubella, and yellow fever.

We are also in the process of expanding a model program to identify and evaluate certain indicators of an employee’s health; information which is then correlated to that employee’s productivity.

For example, the program evaluates such factors as an employee’s glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass, and fitness level. Positive steps may then be taken to provide information to employees on how to improve these indicators through diet habits and exercise.

We believe that education plays a key part, as evidenced in our Preventive Medicine Program in Panama, where education initiatives are used to support other preventive measures such as annual medical examinations and a campaign of vaccinations against tetanus and rubella.

A series of pamphlets was distributed addressing the Quality of Life Program, and specific educational information was provided on osteoporosis and various types of cancer.

A CEMEX program in Mexico called Piso Firme (firm floor) combines promoting good health with community outreach in a unique way. The company supplies antibacterial concrete to be used as a substitute for ground floors in rural homes. This helps assure a clean environment and lowers the risk of contamination and disease. More than 200,000 families have benefited from this program to date, and a similar initiative is now under way in Colombia.

We work to bring newly acquired companies up to CEMEX’s corporate EHS standards as quickly as possible. For example, since we acquired our facility in Egypt in 1999, a comprehensive program has been in place to ensure the health of employees.

In Egypt, periodic medical checkups are administered to achieve early detection of diseases. When examinations reveal symptoms, the employees and affected members of their families are treated promptly.