up local doctors in the use of antiretrovirals and adherence support programmes, and they are also helping set up clinics to deliver anti-HIV treatments.

"One of the good things about the Botswana Project is that although Merck is part-sponsoring it, they are not insisting that we use their own medications. This makes it much easier for the doctors on the ground to buy the drugs where they can, and as cheaply as possible.
"The plan is to put 19,000 people on antiretrovirals. Every adult with a CD4 count below 200 will get the medications. Sustainability is the key thing and the Botswana government has committed itself to continue the treatments in the longer term.
"If you can help people stay alive for a few years it's better than dying in a few months. The women I spoke to were very clear that though the drugs are not a cure and might only keep them alive for a few years, their children could at least get some education.
"So many people in the west are negative in their attitude and say that it's impossible to get treatments to Africa, but we have to make the effort. It's so easy to pass the buck or blame others but I think we all have a responsibility to do what we can ourselves. We've shown that we can overcome the limitations of infrastructure, deliver treatments and save lives."

page 2 of 4

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

home

contents of issue 82
back issues
the gazette
recipes
small ads
contacting us
weblinks

The Gugulethu Project in Cape Town
A £480,000 grant from Crusaid, the UK's national fundraiser for HIV and Aids, will help save the lives of many with HIV in the Cape Town area.
The project is run by a Zimbabwean doctor, Professor Linda-Gail Bekker and her English partner Professor Robin Wood.
Professor Bekker explains: "Gugulethu is a township of about 200,000 near Cape Town and is one of the sites in South Africa where the mother-to-child programme is being rolled out. At the moment all we can offer is monotherapy with nevirapine. You are left with an HIV negative baby, but we can do nothing for the HIV positive mother.

Gugulethu - children point to an aerial photo of their township

"The next step is to bring antiretrovirals to the adult community. Over 20 per cent of people in the township already have HIV.