Ongoing HIV/AIDS support
Fri, 15 April 2011
“We now realise how important it is to come forward to be tested. We are no longer afraid". - Grade 9 Class
One year on : Hantam Community Trust: Community HIV/AIDS awareness and testing
By funding this project, investors have enabled communities surrounding the clinic to receive vital HIV/AIDS education. An increase in the demand for HIV testing indicates that these communities are adopting responsibility for their health and wellbeing.
This project ran from May 2009 to April 2010.
Continuing services
- The clinic continues to function well and is open two mornings a week.
- Currently, an average of 54 patients is seen weekly.
- The health workers and HIV/AIDS counsellors conducted 28 home visits between August 2010 and January 2011.
- Between the same period, 26 patients were tested for HIV. One patient tested positive.
- Three new community members are HIV positive. They are already on ARVs and their health is being monitored.
- Strong monitoring and evaluation structures remain in place: the clinic manager and staff report weekly on patients’ progress; statistics regarding progress, number of testings and results are available as are quarterly reports on HIV/AIDS counselling, social and health problems, intervention programmes etc.
Expenditure
The total budget of the project is R63, 922 and this has been paid in full.
| Description | Budget | Expenditure |
| General workers and Administration | 710 | 710 |
| Clinic Staff - Part Time | 990 | 990 |
| Health workers | 18 750 | 18 750 |
| Insurance | 100 | 100 |
| Printing | 40 | 40 |
| Auditing | 68 | 68 |
| Fundraising | 100 | 100 |
| Telephone and Postage | 160 | 160 |
| General expenses | 100 | 100 |
| Rations | 40 | 40 |
| Workman’s compensation and Bank charges | 117 | 117 |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 19 023 | 19 023 |
| Vehicle Fuel | 20 400 | 20 400 |
| Vehicle Replacement | 100 | 100 |
| Building | 60 | 60 |
| Furniture | 150 | 150 |
| Stationary | 50 | 50 |
| Medicines (HIV/AIDS) | 2 964 | 2 964 |
| TOTAL | 63 922 | 63 922 |
The value of this project
- Communities who have previously had to travel long distance for medical care now have access to a well-run clinic.
- The increase in the requests for HIV testing has offered clinic staff an opportunity to educate patients further on HIV/AIDS and responsible behaviour.
- As community members have come to know and trust the health workers, they are less threatened by the prospect of being tested for HIV/AIDS as they know that in case of testing positive, Hantam will be there to support them and provide access to the necessary medication.
- Weekly meetings between the clinic and health workers have been an effective tool to identify and assist patients in need. This has led to personal monitoring and support for families and individuals who need help in managing their social and health problems more effectively.
An ongoing challenge
Although there is a definite increase in sexually responsible behaviour, not all women have grasped the importance of responsible behaviour. This is particularly so for the youth.
