GreaterGood South Africa

Tutu tester drives for change
Monday, November 30th 2009

A queue of people stand chatting and laughing in front of a very strange looking vehicle – a large, white van, brightly decorated in rainbows. Judging by the smiles and excitement of those waiting, you might mistake it for a popular ice-cream truck. But even from a distance, you can see the big bold balloon letters, the kind popular with children’s television programmes, spelling out TUTU TESTER.

Along the potholed roads of the townships in the Western Cape, the Tutu Tester is (quite literally) driving change in attitudes towards HIV and AIDS. An initiative of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, the Tester is a mobile clinic providing testing for HIV together with screening for other common chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. The concept reflects the approach that HIV should be viewed as a chronic treatable condition rather than one attached to stigma, discrimination and shame.

Making progress

World AIDS Day is observed on 1 December every year. It is a time to promote awareness, but it is also worth remembering what has been achieved in the fight against HIV/AIDS in recent years. The artwork down the side of the Tutu Tester is itself a reflection of how much has been achieved in changing attitudes to HIV. Ten years ago, who would have imagined it possible that a testing centre could announce its arrival so brightly and boldly? Who would have imagined that in response people would rush off to find their partners and family to get tested?

Living positively

There are other signs of progress. While HIV prevalence rates remain alarmingly high, they have stabilised in recent years. Over 700,000 South Africans living with HIV are now on ARVs, giving them the opportunity to live healthy and productive lives. In addition, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) initiatives are reducing the numbers of babies born with HIV, as well as making sure that HIV positive mothers are alive and physically fit to bring up their children.

Studies are revealing new ways to prevent transmission and treat the disease all the time. Research has shown, for example, that risk of an HIV-negative male contracting HIV is 50%-60% lower if he is circumcised. A national action plan to promote free male medical circumcision is in the pipeline as a result.

Change of attitude

One of the most encouraging recent developments is the evident change of attitude within government. The Department of Health in particular has shown an understanding of the urgency of the situation, and an eagerness to implement workable solutions. Massive national campaigns are now underway to improve uptake of the world’s biggest voluntary testing and counselling (VCT) programme and to expand the rollout of ARVs.

Getting involved

This year the Department of Health has decided that the national theme for World Aids Day will be “I am Responsible. We are Responsible. South Africa is taking responsibility.” There are many organisations throughout the country doing innovative and exciting work in helping to reign in the spread of HIV. A number of these have recently been listed on the SA Social Investment Exchange (SASIX) and are available to investors. These include:

• the Tutu Tester Mobile Clinic
• South Coast Hospice’s “Memory Box” project to help children cope with the psychological impact of HIV and AIDS
• Mamelani Project’s series of health and nutrition workshops in underserviced areas
• Lifeline/Childline’s project to empower people living with HIV in Khayelitsha to take responsibility for their own health.

These projects represent a wide range of interventions designed both to prevent the spread of HIV and to provide assistance to sick people and their families. We can all take responsibility for doing our share to combat HIV and AIDS, and what better time to do it than on World AIDS Day?

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