Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - August 17, 2003
Isaac Mahlangu
Joan Burrowes, a fundraiser for the centre, said they can't use the facility as there's no money.
"We have a facility that can be used to help Aids sufferers - but we cannot admit patients without funds to run the ward."
The centre was established by the Edenvale Methodist Church in 2001. It offers counselling to Aids sufferers.
Burrowes said about R50 000 a month was needed to run a full ward of 13 patients.
She said they were waiting for a formal response from the Gauteng Health Department after they applied for funding.
"I have been communicating with people from the department after we submitted our application but we are still waiting for the department's response," Burrowes said.
The centre does pre- and post- Aids test counselling.
Monica Dlamini, a counsellor at the centre, said it was sad to see Aids sufferers who had been getting continual counselling at the centre stop coming when their health deteriorated.
Gauteng Health Communications Director Popo Maja said the department had been bombarded with applications for funding.
"All applicants should submit business plans and we can therefore assess whether it's viable for us to assist," Maja said.
Meanwhile, Johnnic Communication's HIV/Aids task team and the group's chief executive, Connie Molusi, visited the centre with the aim of raising funds for it.
"We are looking at ways we can help as a company, to make small interventions to help those in need," Molusi said.
He said the Aids epidemic was a social and economic challenge to the country and "as a company we are spreading awareness and by getting involved we are demystifying the illness".
The Johnnic team also visited another HIV/Aids centre, Sacred House in Kensington, Joburg, where they donated groceries and linen.
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