In our communities over 60% of new HIV infections are in the 16 to 22 age group with girls overwhelmingly affected.

In 2005/6, we are focusing on incorporating treatment literacy into our health services and our organization as a whole. With ARV treatment being rolled out at the clinic level in Port Elizabeth, there is a significant opportunity to reverse the trend in AIDS mortalities as people access treatment and regain their health. In order to achieve this goal, there needs to be strong push from all stakeholders to increase uptake of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and ARV therapy.

Ubuntu is strategically positioned to support ARV treatment rollout in the Ibhayi townships of Port Elizabeth through our community outreach, counselling and training activities. We have spent the past six years developing a widespread community presence and building strong relationships with local community institutions including schools, clinics, churches, community centres, neighbourhood structures, business, government agencies and other CBOs/NGOs. Our treatment literacy component is being developed in response to requests for information on ARV treatment from community members in our empowerment workshops, outreach workshops, focus groups, monthly school health committee meetings, townhall events, and counselling sessions. Ubuntu makes access to information and opportunities the cornerstone of everything we do-it is one of the most precious resources to communities which were systematically denied their right to information and education for decades. Our goal is to enable our communities to make informed decisions about the future and be armed with information to be protected in a destabilizing environment. Establishing an ARV treatment network is a vital step in that direction.

There are an estimated 400,000 people in the Nelson Mandela Metropole living with HIV, with the greatest concentration in the township communities of Ibhayi. At least 40,000 people are currently in need of ARV therapy in greater Port Elizabeth. The South African Plan for Comprehensive Treatment and Care for HIV/AIDS was launched in November 2003 to provide antiretroviral (ARV) therapy to 1.4 million South Africans by 2008. After a slow start, ARV treatment is finally becoming available in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. In March 2005, Ubuntu joined the Metropole Steering Committee for ARV Rollout, which is made up of government, NGO, and hospital representatives who meet monthly to discuss implementation issues.

We are partnering with the local clinics to increase access to and uptake of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and ARV services and provide a comprehensive network of support for people living with HIV/AIDS. Over the next year, we will conduct pre and post-test counselling, develop VCT quality assurance tools for usage by lay counsellors, train lay counsellors in advanced pre and post test counselling, counsel individuals on risk reduction, workshop our communities on treatment readiness and adherence, provide comprehensive family case management services, and run support groups focusing on living positively with HIV.