Our history

Founded in March 1929 as the “Nelspoort After Care Committee” to support TB patients and their families, the organisation was renamed TB Care in 1945 and became a founding member of the South African National TB Association (SANTA).

TB Care established the first community-based TB treatment support programme, enabling patients to receive their medication in the community from a trained lay worker instead of going to the clinic. This ground-breaking initiative was started in partnership with the Community Health Association of Southern Africa (CHASA).

With the advent of the HIV epidemic, TB Care expanded its pioneering community-based treatment and support for TB patients to include people living with HIV. As the programme expanded, more and more people had access to ART and adherence support on their treatment journey.

Recognising that TB and HIV affect many of the same clients, TB Care changed its name to TB/HIV Care Association (THCA) and began integrating TB and HIV Services. This was achieved through a PEPFAR grant administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

TB/HIV Care Association recognised that inmates in correctional centres face an increased risk of TB and HIV. and started to focus on this group. By mid-2009, TB/HIV Care Association entered an operational agreement to support the Department of Correctional Services in the Western Cape.

TB/HIV Care Association begins focusing on HIV prevention through two different programmes (with funding from PEPFAR through the CDC): VMMC for men in the general population and prevention and treatment services for sex workers.

TB/HIV Care Association recognises the need for specialised services for key populations (people who are ‘key’ to ending the HIV epidemic) and began offering HIV prevention and wellness services to people who inject drugs.

TB/HIV Care Association’s social work programme, which addresses the complex issues which play into how people adhere to their treatment, received funding for a further three years from the Department of Social Development. This programme also runs an educare centre for children under five who are hospitalised with TB.

On 1 October 2017, the organisation changed from a non-profit organisation (NPO) to a non-profit company (NPC). To mark this, our name changed from TB/HIV Care Association (THCA) to TB HIV Care (THC).

TB HIV Care has a footprint in seven provinces and 25 districts across South Africa, providing comprehensive healthcare services (including prevention and treatment) to the general population, youth, communities and key populations.