PrEP

Minister of Health visits TB HIV Care’s Drop-in Centre in eThekwini

Minister of Health visits TB HIV Care’s Drop-in Centre in eThekwini

Submitted by: Mfezi Mcingana (Key Populations Programme Manager)

TB HIV Care’s Drop-in Centre in eThekwini provides support, healthcare services and treatment to sex workers within our community.

Over the years we have worked hard to ensure that the centre is a safe space for sex workers, where their needs are met and their voices are heard. On the 10th of January 2019, we were able to allow sex workers the chance to voice their fears and daily challenges to a delegation of government representatives.

In attendance were the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Deputy Minister of the South African Police Services (SAPS), Bongani Mkongi, KZN Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, CEO of SANAC, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, police and Department of Health representatives, civil society and the sex worker community. Aiming to eliminate violence against women in general and sex workers in particular, this dialogue had our centre filled to capacity with sex workers who had come to engage with the government and SAPS about their grievances.

The pain and suffering of the community was visible as they took full advantage of the opportunity provided to voice their fears and discuss the hardships that they face on a daily basis (at times as a result of police brutality).

In his address, Dr Motsoaledi highlighted that in eThekwini, the Department of Health is working closely with TB HIV Care, Global Fund and PEPFAR to provide services to the sex worker community, noting that “they are not only providing additional services through mobiles, but are also assisting the department to improve the services that we provide in public clinics.”

He told the audience that “we are testing a fair number of sex workers, but are still not reaching everyone”. He also reiterated that those individuals that are testing negative and are being offered PrEP, are not accepting the service even though they know it will prevent the transmission of HIV.

He highlighted the fact that of all those individuals that test positive, only 55% are on ARVs.  He went on to say that ARVs are “good for the health of people living with HIV and one can enjoy a long healthy life if one continues the medication. However, we also know that those that take their medication are virally suppressed and will not transmit the virus to others.” Dr Motsoaledi went on to say that “it means that we have to work harder to test for HIV and STIs and screening for TB.  Everyone gets access to contraceptives and when one tests positive they are placed on treatment immediately. Secondly, it means consistent use of condoms and if offered, use of PrEP for the duration of the practice of risky sexual behaviour.” The Minister of Health therefore humbly requested that sex workers encourage their colleagues in eThekwini and elsewhere to get tested regularly.

The Minister of Health (MOH) acknowledged that sex workers experience much stigma and discrimination, both at the hands of health workers and some members of SAPS. The Deputy Minister of SAPS and the MEC are working together to ensure that sex workers are not abused by the system.  He encouraged sex workers to report any form of abuse.

In his conclusion, the MOH spoke about drug use. He stated that he understands that many sex workers use drugs to cope with their work and working conditions. However, this increases the chances of violence as well as HIV transmission and forgetting to take medication like ARVs and PrEP. In addition, some sex workers also inject drugs and we know that sharing of needles is the cause of transmission of both HIV and hepatitis. He asked that    “you don’t share needles if you are injecting drugs – rather come to TB HIV Care and request needles and ensure that used needles are disposed of safely, as this can be another major challenge if they are left lying around on the ground. I am sure that colleagues from TB HIV Care will say more about how to deal with these issues safely.”

Massive congratulations to everyone involved!

TB HIV Care’s Sex Worker Programme given green light to supply ART and PrEP in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District

TB HIV Care’s Sex Worker Programme given green light to supply ART and PrEP in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District

On Monday, 26 November, TB HIV Care’s Doctor Kenneth Kaunda (DKK) Key Populations – Sex Worker Programme site was assessed for its capacity to provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Key assessment objectives included:

  • To assess the facility in the quality management of HIV and TB
  • To assess implementation of the NSP HIV, STI and TB guidelines
  • Assess the data management system, including proper data collection, recording, analysis and reporting
  • To assess the drug supply and management system: planning, forecasting and reporting
  • Support the facility in identifying programme strengths, weaknesses and opportunities – and making appropriate recommendations for improvement of ART/ PrEP service delivery

The site was visited by Hasina Subedar, Eva Marumo (NDoH), Keitheng Matlapeng (North West Provincial DoH), Paul Motlhaoleng and Anna Malaudi (Matlosana District DoH). They were received by Mfezi Mcingana (TB HIV Care’s Key Populations Programme Manager) and the DKK team. A successful assessment was conducted and accreditation was granted for both ART and PrEP implementation for the site.

The TB HIV Care DKK team would like to thank the DKK District and the NW Provincial Department of Health for their continued support of the programme.

TB HIV Care Voices: Honing the mobilisation skills of our front-line community workers

TB HIV Care Voices: Honing the mobilisation skills of our front-line community workers

Staff blog. Submitted by: John Mutsambi (PrEP Coordinator)

Community peer mobilisers and educators are the most important communication tool for health promotion and uptake of the different HIV prevention options that science has availed.

To hone the skills of these front-line health workers, who are working with adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in uMgungundlovu (KZN), an intensive workshop on community mobilisation for HIV prevention was conducted from 7-8 May, 2018.

The forum brought together 42 participants, including 27 THC HIV Prevention Programme staff and 15 Girls Clubs mentors from Community Media Trust.

The training started with an overview of the HIV epidemic in South Africa and narrowed the focus to AGYW, highlighting the burden they carry as well as the combination HIV prevention options available to them –  which will soon include PrEP.

Thoughtful engagement and discussions on the importance of community mobilisation, the qualities of a good community mobiliser, their roles and responsibilities and how to plan effectively for community mobilisation ensued. During the workshop, a road map detailing the process from community mobilisation all the way through to the provision of clinical and care services was created. The training ended with a reflection on Idowu Koyenikan’s quotation which says, “There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests get together to work toward the same goals”.