Life Healthcare provides hands-on support for government’s HIV counselling and testing campaign
Life Healthcare is offering free HIV screening and counselling through ten of its
hospitals and at 60 occupational healthcare on-site clinics countrywide, in support
of the government’s national HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign. In keeping
with the campaign, screening for tuberculosis (TB), hypertension (high blood pressure),
diabetes and anaemia will also be done.
Says Dr Keith Shongwe, general manager health policy at Life Healthcare: “We believe
it’s imperative for the private sector to join hands with government in this very
important HCT campaign which aims to test 15 million people for HIV by June next
year. The Life Healthcare group has heeded the call and will be testing and counselling
as many people as possible through our own facilities. We are sponsoring the HIV
and other test kits, and have also sponsored counselling training of our nurses
who have volunteered for this purpose. The training of these nurses complies with
the national protocols for conducting counselling and testing for the HCT campaign.”
“We would like to encourage everyone to be tested. All information will be treated
as confidential,” says Dr Shongwe.
The government’s Aid for Aids programme strongly recommends that the best course
of action is to enroll HIV positive patients onto a treatment programme as early
as possible after diagnosis. Evidence suggests that the earlier patients are enrolled
in a disease management programme, the better their clinical outcome will be.
For further information email janet.young@lifehealthcare.co.za
Above:
MD of Life Esidimeni, Sandile Mbele (left) and Dr. Lloyd Kaseke (right), medical advisor
in Life Healthcare’s clinical directorate department, who are both members of the
group’s HCT steering committee, check some of the consumables which will be used
for HIV testing and screening for other chronic conditions. With them is Richard
Womersley from Armada Health, the NICD approved supplier of the consumables.
Above:
Team members at Life Brenthurst Clinic, who are involved in conducting HIV counselling
and testing, as well as screening for chronic health conditions, as part of Life
Healthcare’s support of the government’s HCT campaign.
L-r: Elizabeth Munjeri, nursing manager; Theresa Motshoane, SHEQ/IC specialist; Liveson
Kwinda from maintenance; Nomsa Mbuyisa, acting nursing standards manager; Prax Hwindingwi,
orthopaedic ward secretary; Pat Kriege, acting reception supervisor; Caroline Molojoa,
RN – theatre; Jackie Stuart, unit manager – surgical; Maria Motsoane, unit manager
– paediatrics; Annie Michaels, unit manager – gynae (resigned); Cindy Shezi, assistant
pharmacist; Alice Moloto, unit manager – adult ICU; Alice Mankupane, unit manager
– maternity; Arens Kgomongwe, unit manager – emergency; Irene Hammanburg, unit manager
– NNICU; and Lifeline trainer - Mike Modise. Front, l-r: Bukelwa Dikgale, unit manager
– medical; Tshilidze Nthambeleni, clinical training specialist.