AHF South Africa

South Africa became home to AHF’s first treatment centre outside the U.S. with the establishment of the Ithembalabantu (People’s Hope) clinic in the Durban township of Umlazi in 2002, through a partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. In addition to Ithembalabantu, AHF now supports 20 other clinics in the Durban area. AHF expanded services to the Eastern Cape Province in 2008. It now supports over 30 clinics in rural districts of the country’s poorest province. In 2016, AHF opened a state of the art clinic in Middledrift, Eastern Cape.

In 2015, AHF launched services in Gauteng province, focusing on underserved communities like Heidelberg, expanding to 10 sites throughout the province in 2017.

Through these sites, AHF South Africa offers comprehensive HIV and tuberculosis (TB) testing, treatment and care. Nationwide services include antiretroviral medication, CD4 and viral load testing, lab monitoring, treatment of opportunistic infections, on-site pharmacy services, distribution of free condoms to the public, and community outreach programs to test the population for HIV and link those who test positive into care.

South Africa carries the world’s heaviest HIV/AIDS burden with 7.9 million people living with HIV and prevalence rates lingering at 18.9% of the population. The most recent Human Science Research Council Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication study, released in July 2018 estimated that there were 270,000 new HIV cases and over 110,000 AIDS-related deaths last year alone, with TB ranked as the leading cause of death in the country. Young women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV in South Africa with HIV prevalence among 20 to 24 year-olds is three times higher among females (15.6%) than males (4.8%). This is why AHF South Africa runs Girls Act, a special program focusing on empowering youth with sexual and reproductive health and rights information, distributing sanitary pads, building self-esteem and encouraging girls to stay in school.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Since 1987, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has grown from a small community-based hospice in Los Angeles serving people in the final stages of AIDS to the largest global HIV/AIDS nonprofit organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy regardless of ability to pay.

AHF fulfills its mission through its healthcare centers, HIV/AIDS special needs health plans and disease management programs, pharmacies, and clinics in resource-constrained regions.

As a truly independent voice, AHF’s operating capital comes from self-created social enterprises such as AHF Pharmacies, Out of the Closet thrift stores, healthcare contracts, and other strategic partnerships.

AHF serves more than 2 million clients in 47 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Our work combines innovative healthcare delivery models with positive policy changes that help bring life-saving treatment, free HIV testing, and free or affordable condoms to all who need them.

In recent years, AHF has expanded its focus on global public health to include housing, food security, and pandemic response and preparedness in addition to HIV/AIDS.

For more information, visit aidshealth.org.