In April last year we started an HIV awareness and voluntary testing programme (see previous Health blogs). The programme was run monthly, throughout the year, in each of the 4 villages of the Xhora Mouth Area, in which the BI operates, namely: Nqileni, Mgojweni, Tshezi and Folokwe.
The events became very popular and over 600 people have now use the voluntary testing and counselling facilities, provided by the medical staff of Madwaleni Hospital.
While these events have been making a significant impact through the dissemination of information and by providing the opportunity for people to know their status, the access for community members to ARV medication in the area has remained a problem.
With resources from our Community Work Programme, a donation of land and a hut by Folokwe Village and assistance from Madwaleni hospital, the area soon open its own Health Point where medication can be distributed and HIV support group meetings can be held. It can also be used as a venue for the mobile clinic which visits the area on a fortnightly basis. The hut is situated near the road, in a location central to all 4 villages and we expect that it will be very popular, offering a much needed service!
Fixing up the hut donated as the new Health Point
A central location, near the road
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