8 March 2005

Western Cape Health MEC Pierre Uys officially opened the province's first dedicated antiretroviral (ARV) treatment centre in Gugulethu last week.

The Hannan Crusaid ARV Treatment Centre is the result of a partnership between the Western Cape government and UK-based HIV/Aids fundraising organisation Crusaid.

Crusaid, established in 1986, has funded HIV/Aids projects in African countries including Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The facility will render services such as counseling and the supply of the ARV treatment to the people of Gugulethu and surrounding communities such as Nyanga, Mannenberg and Heideveld.

Gugulethu has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the Western Cape; the most recent statistics stood at 28% among pregnant women, and indicated that approximately 38 000 of Gugulethu's 340 000 population could be HIV-positive.

The provincial government donated R3.2-million towards building the site, while Crusaid invested R5.6-million.

Source: BuaNews

Want to use this article in your publication or on your website? See: Using SAinfo material

	Govt awards ARV drug tender Aids drug rollout gains momentum

	Western Cape government  Crusaid

Aids Helpline 0800 012 322 Frightened, confused by Aids? South Africa's Aids Helpline offers toll-free, multi-lingual assistance from trained counsellors accessing the latest data through a computerised call centre. Backed up by the Aids Helpline website.

AIDS LINKS SOUTH AFRICA Government and related sites AidsInfo / Khomanani AfroAIDSinfo Department of Health loveLife South African Aids Directory South African Aids Vaccine Initiative SA Medical Research Council Non-governmental sites Aids Consortium Aids Foundation South Africa Aids Law Project Centre for the Study of Aids hivExperts.org.za Planned Parenthood Association SA Red Ribbon Portal Treatment Action Campaign Wits Aids Research Database