VEREENIGING. – The number of clinics in Gauteng providing Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment to HIV-positive patients is set to increase to 61 this month. Health and Social Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu has ordered that all clinics should provide the treatment by September, in line with the new treatment guidelines that came into effect in April. ARV treatment was previously available in hospitals and community health centres.
ΓÇ£The provision of anti-retroviral therapy in clinics will make treatment easily accessible to the community and will contribute to the saving of lives,ΓÇ¥ says Mahlangu.
To date 295 785 (including 22 830 children) patients are currently on treatment in the province with about a million more having being assessed and will gradually be brought into the treatment programme.
In June over 30 more clinics (including one in Boipatong where treatment wasn’t previously available) started providing treatment. Treatment is also available in Bophelong and Sharpeville.
News source: Mooivaal Media – Vaalweekblad