eThembeni ARV Project

The area is characterised by high rates of HIV/AIDS (15%), TB (40%) and unemployment (90%). The project is a partnership between the Provincial Department of Health, the Izandla Zothando Centocow AIDS project, and the Bishops Foundation who provided the funding.

The project operates from the district hospital and provides support to four local clinics. They train and monitor the nursing staff, the lay counsellors and Home Based Carers (HBCs) to identify those infected with HIV/AIDS and encourage them to be tested and where applicable to provide them with ARVs and ensure that they continue to take their medication. Due to the poverty, the project provides food parcels and one meal to patients who visit the hospital and the clinics as they would not be able to continue their treatment if they had not eaten for the day. Disability grant applications forms were also completed for those patients whose CD 4 count make them to weak to work.

The community identifies and forwards the names of people who they feel would benefit from the service. HBCs each visit between 10-15 patients per week to ensure that they adhere to their treatment regimens. 

Innovation

The project is the only ARV site in the area and provides support to four rural clinics thus enhancing its outreach considerably. Another innovation is that prominent community members have been targeted to become involved in the project, increasing its profile and contributing to community buy-in and support. 

Effectiveness

Initially the project had 3 staff members, this has since increased to 10 people and with its partners provide care to 1470 HIV positive people. 76 new patients completed their baseline CD4 tests in April 2006 and have been enrolled for HIV care. 372 patients are receiving ARVs every month.

Poverty Impact

Not only does the project address the medical issues of the patients who use their services, it also meets their nutritional needs. Over 400 patients receive food parcels every month, while an estimated 300 patients have been assisted with obtaining disability grants. Patients also receive vegetable soup, daily.

Sustainability

The annual running cost of the project is R 1.3 million. A finance manager is responsible for financial oversight and reports to the hospital manager who in turn is accountable to the Board. Recently a cost benefit analysis has been conducted by UKZN. Funding is secured for at least the next three years, as the province is committed to extending these services.

Replication

The high rates of poverty, unemployment, TB and HIV/AIDS in the rural areas of South Africa, makes this project worthy of replication in similar settings across the country.

Partnerships

• Provincial Department of Health
• Izandla Zothando Centocow AIDS Project (NGO)
• Bishops Foundation (Private Sector)