The Eastern Cape health department on Friday launched its provincial anti-retroviral roll-out to HIV-positive patients in that region.
Eastern Cape minister of health Dr Bevan Goqwana was at the launch of the province’s ”comprehensive” rollout plan at Settlers hospital in Grahamstown.
According to provincial health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo, the roll-out will target an estimated 2 700 beneficiaries in the first six months, with the provincial department providing an annual budget of R40.8-million for the campaign.
Kupelo said there are an estimated 530 000 people living with HIV in the region.
Kupelo said potential beneficiaries will have to go through voluntary counselling and testing as part of a full screening process.
”Clients will have to be screened for readiness, a process that will take two to four weeks. It is this screening process that will determine who is eligible for the drugs,” he said.
Seven sites have been accredited by the province to dispense the ARVs: PE Complex, East London, Umtata Complex, Mlamli hospital, Frontier hospital, Settlers hospital and Rietvlei hospital. — Sapa