The Western Cape Minister of Health, Mr Theuns Botha, accepted the handover of the structures built and sponsored by the non governmental organisation (NGO), Anova Health with support from the American people, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The structures will be used for the counselling, testing and treatment of infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB).
The service centre which is situated on the grounds of the De Doorns Clinic in De Doorns, were erected at a cost of R300 000 some of which was donated to USAID by the President's Emergency Fund for Aids Relief by (PEPFAR). The centre receives support from the Department of Health in the form of medications, furniture and medical staff and aims to through intensive case finding, treatment and infection control, identify and treat 20 new patients per month and reduce mother to child transmission.
Anova encourages patients to use the centre as a venue for interaction, story sharing and problem solving. To facilitate this, they have included an undercover area furnished with tables and chairs.
The interaction of patients with their health care workers creates the opportunity to bridge the gap from a medically driven management of disease to a community owned illness, thus encouraging the community to understand that HIV and TB patients on treatment, adhering to a healthy lifestyle are the solution to the illness.
The Department of Health wholeheartedly encourages community involvement as a means of addressing the stigma of HIV and AIDS, TB and celebrates the opening of the centre as a point of healing and safety.
Media enquiries:
Jo-Anne Otto (Communications Officer, Cape Winelands Region, Worcester)
Tel: 023 348 8109
Cell: 072 808 0106
Fax: 023 342 8501
E-mail: ejotto@pgwc.gov.za
