Affordable new AIDS treatment and quality care

Tuesday, 28 November 2006: Until today, South Africans infected with HIV have had two options for healthcare: go to private (and expensive) clinics for antiretroviral (ARV) drug treatment or go public and take a day off work each month.

Zuzimpilo (meaning “gain health”) Medical Centre is the first of its kind in the country, launched today in Johannesburg’s city centre prior to World Aids Day, to finally give healthcare consumers a choice.

The notion of charging people for ARV care was debated intensely at the recent Toronto AIDS conference.  Dr. Tinyiko Khosa, Director of Zuzimpilo, asserts: “The current cost of providing ARV treatment including drugs, lab tests and consultations is about R1200 (US$165) a month. Zuzimpilo Medical Centre will charge only R350 (US$48) monthly to cover doctors’ consultations, blood tests and ARV treatment.  The small fee will help make the centre sustainable and may inspire similar centres throughout the country.”

Zuzimpilo is supported by USAID with funding from President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Eric Bost was present at the new clinic’s grand opening.

The centre, located conveniently at the corner of Jeppe and Joubert Streets in central Johannesburg, will improve access to HIV care and treatment, especially for people who are employed but do not yet have medical aid to get ARVs. 

Zuzimpilo’s main aim is to provide high quality care at a one stop clinic where the consultation, blood taking and pharmacy are all available on-site.  People will be able to go through voluntary HIV counseling and testing.  Those who are negative will be counseled to stay negative; if people are positive, clinic staff will perform a CD4 count (that measures the body’s immune system cells) to determine whether they need ARVs.  Those not yet eligible for ARV treatment will be put on a wellness programme for guidance and education to stay as healthy as possible. 

The service is intended for those who are employed, but reluctant to take a day off work every month to attend a government clinic; and those who have an employer or a loved one able to pay for the cost of care.  General practitioners may choose to send their patients to this specialised clinic.

In case a patient of the clinic can no longer afford the costs, Zuzimpilo is able to offer free care for several months.  Should circumstances not change, the patient will be referred to a free-of-charge service in the vicinity.

The clinic aims to have 1000 people on ARV treatment and another 800 on pre-ARV wellness care in the first year. 

For more information, patients can call the helpline on 0860 IMPILO (467456) or check the website:  www.zuzimpilo.co.za

Zuzimpilo is based in the historic Ansteys Bulding at 59 Joubert Street in central Johannesburg.  The location was chosen with the hope that it will contribute to the regeneration of the inner city and can be accessed by many people due to its proximity to public transportation.  ENDS  

For further information, please contact Mpume Ncube of Onyx Marketing Communications:
 083 222 5184/ mpume@onyxmarketing.co.za