SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS patients thank Americans for their support

Record ID: 402672

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS patients thank Americans for their support
  • Date: 8th August 2009
  • Summary: CULLINNAN; SOUTH AFRICA ( AUGUST 07, 2009) ( REUTERS) CULLINAN AIDS CARE CLINIC CLINIC'S LOGO MEDIA WAITING
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Health,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVA5XV0RDAA1ANHAKR3FOBPEPXIC
  • Story Text: US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on Friday (August 7) visited an HIV/AIDS clinic funded by the US and pledged for more funds in the fight against the AIDS scourge in South Africa.
    The Cullinan Clinic is in a mining town situated near Pretoria and is funded through the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
    The clinic offers comprehensive HIV/AIDS services which include antiretroviral therapy (ART) and treatment for opportunistic infections, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT).
    The services are provided through a public-private partnership with the South African government providing about 75% of the resources, with PEPFAR supporting the remaining needs. More than 1063 patients have enrolled in HIV care since the clinic's inception.
    Smangele Dube, one of the AIDS patients benefiting from PEPFAR, alluded to the challenges faced by AIDS patients, particularly stigma but thanked Clinton for her government's support.
    "So, I would like to thank US PEPFAR, the ART Clinic which are funded by PEPFAR that thank you, keep the work, keep giving us the strength and the support so that we can kick out this virus in our body. The virus is not written in my face, I am not written HIV positive but I am HIV positive, the confidence which I got from the counsellors, supporters of the clinic, I say thank you, keep the good work to the community," Dube told the guests at the clinic.
    According to the US government, in fiscal year 2009, the PEPFAR program in South Africa, with over 500 prime and sub-partners, will work toward achieving the September 2012 targets, which are to treat 3 million HIV-infected people, prevent 12 million new infections, and care for 12 million HIV-infected and affected individuals.
    "Certainly, the prior administration was very committed, the Obama administration has said that we want to, not only target HIV/AIDS but do it efficiently and fulfil our commitment to the amount of money that was appropriated before and add to it and that's what we intend to do," Clinton said.
    Clinton is expected to meet South Africa's President Jacob Zuma in Durban on Saturday (August 8) before proceeding to Cape Town.
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