Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - July 6, 2004
Of the five million HIV-positive people in South Africa, it is estimated that 600 000 are in need of ARVs, the SACBC said in a statement.
"Take-up" of the Department of Health's roll-out is slow and logistical complications make it impossible for the government to reach everybody.
The Catholic Church has a network of more than 140 service programmes for people living with HIV and Aids in South Africa, making it the largest service provider in the country after the government, the SACBC said.
In February this year the church started rolling out its programme to provide HIV and Aids ARV therapy (HAART) at 22 of its facilities.
Seven of the 22 proposed points of service have already started with HAART, with a combined total of just less than 300 patients.
All other points of service have already identified staff and more than 100 doctors and nurses have been trained in ARV management.
Each point of service is staffed with a medical doctor, a professional nurse and a project coordinator, all of whom are trained in government-accredited ARV management.
It is planned to have all 22 service points operational by February 2005, with 600 patients on HAART at St Mary's hospital (Mariannhill), 300 at Tapologo (Rustenburg), 200 at Sizanani (Bronkhorstspruit) and 100 at each of the remaining 19 points -- a total of 3 000 patients.
This number will be doubled to a total of 6 000 in the second year and doubled again to 12 000 in the third year.
The project is currently funded by Cordaid (The Netherlands) and Pepfar (United States).
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