The experience of the Bela Bela HIV prevention group with the roll out of Antiretroviral therapy at the Primary Health Care level

Abstract

The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been shown to have significantly improved morbidity; mortality and prognosis of AIDS related conditions.1 HIV/AIDS has become a chronic manageable condition in the developed world yet in most parts of the developing world HIV patients do not have access to antiretroviral therapy.2 There is evidence, mainly from the Western Cape and Gauteng, that ART can work at the PHC level, however there is no literature about it from less resourced provinces like Limpopo. Bela Bela is a sunshine town 100 km north of Pretoria, with a population of 63000 inhabitants. The Bela Bela HIV Prevention Group which was formed in 1996 by community members who are concerned about HIV has performed17740 tests in the area from 1997 to February 2005 of which 7780 were found to be positive. The antenatal survey coordinated by the National Department of Health in the year 2004 found that the HIV seroprevalence for the Waterberg district in which Bela Bela is situated is 26.6 % while Limpopo province's average is 19.3 %.3 This paper covers issues related to achievements and challenges encountered during the first six months of an antiretroviral (ART) roll-out by the HIV/AIDS Prevention Group at the Primary Health Care level in Bela Bela, Limpopo Province.

For full text, click here:SA Fam Pract 2006;48(4):56-57