South Africa : Medical Centre opens new wing to improve services

By Gabi Khumalo

Johannesburg - Due to an increasing number of HIV and AIDS patients, a new wing has been opened at the Zuzimpilo Medical Centre, which offers high quality care at a one-stop clinic as part of its expansion plans.

The new wing, which was officially opened on Tuesday, has more consultation rooms and offers consultations by appointment, phlebotomy and a pharmacy on site that focuses on the treatment of HIV and AIDS.

Speaking at the event, Health Minister Barbara Hogan called all sectors in society including the church, business and other formations to assist in heightening government's prevention campaign, stressing the importance of not loosing sight of the important need to increase the prevention campaign against HIV and AIDS.

"We have to strengthen our call to young people not to engage in sex before they are ready, just as important, we have to appeal to adults in our society to practice safe sex.

"For me, these are just some of the simple, yet important steps that we need to take if we are to see a real reversal in the spread of new infections," the minister said.

Zuzimpilo Centre's Project Director, Dr Motato Leshika said: "The centre aims to support and assist the public health system by providing access to subsidised care, we have started 1 200 patients on ARVs, 1 400 are on our wellness programme."

The centre is an initiative of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a response to the increasing numbers of HIV and AIDS patients who pose a major challenge to the roll out of treatment especially via the public health sector.

Since its opening in November 2006, the centre has attracted 2 600 HIV and AIDS patients that are paying towards a new model of partly subsidised healthcare.

The concept is to provide subsidised care, targeted at people who are either able to afford to make an out of pocket payment for their own HIV care sector, tested and receive treatment.

The sector provides high quality care at a one-stop clinic where the consultations, blood taking and pharmacy are all available at the same site.

While the total cost of providing Anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment including drugs, lab test and consultations is about R1000 to R1 200 to private doctors, the centre charges R250 per month for ARVs, the US Government covers the rest.

US Consul General, Andrew Passen said he was proud of the results that Zuzimpilo is achieving, the model that is being offered and proud to be a partner.

"It is not just the amount of money that makes US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief effective, it is the focus on partnership and on results," Mr Passen said. - BuaNews