South Africa: 2,000 People Celebrate Launch of AHF's New Free AIDS Clinic Site in Umlazi

Ithembalabantu ‘People’s Hope’ AIDS Treatment Clinic Moves to New, Larger Freestanding Site at Ithala Centre AHF Provided Free Mass HIV Testing during Daylong Celebration and Launch Over 2,000 people joined in the dedication and ribbon-cutting celebration of the launch of AIDS Healthcare Foundation's (AHF) new, expanded state-of-the-art clinic location in Umlazi, Durban, South Africa on Tuesday. Following seven years of continuing growth at its first free international AIDS treatment site outside of the United States, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest AIDS group in the US and which currently provides medical care and services to more than 98,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, launched the new, expanded clinic location in Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. The clinic, known as 'Ithembalabantu' (Zulu for 'people's hope') was AHF's first in its overseas global network. It had been housed in a bustling storefront location in Ithala Centre, a popular shopping center in Umlazi since it was dedicated in August, 2001 and began treating its first 200 patients starting in February, 2002. Currently over 7,000 adult and pediatric patients receive medical care at Ithembalabantu, many of whom also receive free lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment via the facility. The launch of the new Ithembalabantu clinic location included a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony as well as remarks from honored guests, including a keynote address from the Honourable Ms. Peggy Nkonyeni, MEC of Health for KwaZulu Natal. As part of the launch celebration, AHF also coordinated free mass HIV testing at the site throughout the day with a goal of providing 500 free rapid HIV tests. American actress, singer and AIDS activist Sheryl Lee Ralph also participated in the dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting. Ms. Ralph remarked, "It is both an honor and privilege for me to share in this day as we launch AHF's new Ithembalabantu Clinic. I am particularly pleased that free rapid HIV testing will be available throughout the daylong celebration in Umlazi, and urge all of you who have not tested or may not know your HIV status to get tested today. The best way to break the chain of infection—in the US, South Africa or anywhere—is for people to know their HIV status. Testing today is free and easy; and for those individuals who may test positive, people can be easily linked to care and treatment opportunities right here at Ithembalabantu." Ms. Ralph, who also sang at the ceremony, was greeted very enthusiastically by the crowd when she later spoke of the Ithembalabantu clinic clients in attendance as the real VIPs—"very important patients." "It is an honor for me to welcome such esteemed colleagues and partners to join in the ceremonies marking the expansion and launch of Ithembalabantu, AIDS Healthcare Foundation's first free global AIDS treatment facility," Jorge Saavedra, MD, Chief of Global Affairs for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "From 200 patients in its first year to well over 7,000 patients today, we hope this new facility allows us to continue Ithembalabantu's remarkable tradition of service to those living with HIV/AIDS by providing the space and resources needed for us to continue to expand the rolls of those in care and on treatment in South Africa." During the dedication ceremony, the good work of the doctors, nurses and all the staff at the clinic was also acknowledged by speakers from the MEC, who noted that Ithembalabantu was the first clinic accredited outside the government health system. Zinhle Tabethe' one of the first clients at the Ithembalabantu Clinic' emceed the dedication ceremony and spoke movingly about how the clinic—and the access to anti-retroviral drug therapies it provided—helped save her life. In addition, Ms. S. Shezi, District Manager, Ethekwini District Health Department spoke positively about the clinic and AHF's contributions to the 'down-referral' system and to saving lives throughout the Umlazi community. "With nearly one in five people living with—and dying from—HIV/AIDS in South Africa today, our country remains one of those hardest hit by the global pandemic," Diana Hoorzuk, Vice-chair of the Board of Directors for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "Over the years, Ithembalabantu has met a portion of South Africa's enormous need for care and services through our initial location in Umlazi. I am very pleased that we have outgrown that original space and that we are now celebrating the launch of this new, expanded location for Ithembalabantu—a remarkable facility which will allow us to broaden the reach of our mission to provide free care and lifesaving antiretroviral treatment." "As the Medical Director for Ithembalabantu, I can report firsthand that this new treatment facility will make it much easier for us to treat many more patients in need," Njabulo Mabaso, MD, Medical Director for AHF's Ithembalabantu Clinic. "We have done a commendable job over the years at our storefront clinic location, but this new state-of-the-art site provides a potentially far greater opportunity for us to bring many, many more people into the lifeboat of medical care and treatment." Among the many participants introduced during the dedication ceremony, Cynthia Luthul, Nurse Manager for the Ithembalabantu Clinic, received one of the warmest and most enthusiastic responses from the very client-oriented crowd who joined in the clinic launch celebration. History of the AHF's First Global Partnership—South Africa In July 2000, AHF president Michael Weinstein attended the XIII International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, which for a brief window of time focused the world's attention on the devastation of AIDS in Africa. Weinstein, one of the many thousands of AIDS executives, researchers, physicians, scientists and activists who had traveled to the conference, was profoundly moved by what he saw beyond the veneer of the conference halls in South Africa. He met with AIDS activists and representatives of AIDS organizations and toured the townships in KwaZulu-Natal. After seeing the compassion and commitment of those advocates, Weinstein made a vow to develop partnerships and a plan to open a clinic in Durban. The plan also included conducting operational research on the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in a resource poor environment. At the time of the initial clinic launch of Ithembalabantu in 2002, AHF President Weinstein remarked, "The clinic in Durban is a seed that we hope will grow into a thriving tree. The success of the Ithembalabantu Clinic will show the world that treating HIV can succeed across the globe." "Today, seven years later, I am extremely proud to report that AIDS Healthcare Foundation now provides care and treatment to more than 98,000 people in 21 countries around the globe," Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in a statement from Los Angeles "As we celebrate Ithembalabantu on its move today to its wonderful new space, I am both honored and humbled by the knowledge that the seed we first planted in Umlazi years ago has born fruit, leading the way in our growing network of free AIDS treatment clinics—52 global clinics and counting— through which we provide lifesaving medical care and treatment to those most in need around the world." To view photos of the clinic opening, click here.