By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) global board arrived in South Africa to undergo various site visits in order to continue to support South Africa in their pursuit to combat HIV/AIDS. The delegation are said to be in South Africa over the course of two weeks.

The AHF global board members signal a continued support for South Africa in various communities across the country. 

The organisation intends to meet patients, staff and other organizations who are also in the fight to combat HIV/AIDS, as they also plan to do the same in countries like Zimbabwe and Namibia. 

Board member Dr Rodney Wright told Channel Africa that South Africa has 7 million people currently living with HIV.

 “SA is one of the largest programmes we run worldwide, with more than 250,000 clients receiving treatment and care through our centres here,” Dr Rodney told Channel Africa. 

In 2002 the first AHF treatment centre outside of the U.S was opened in Durban and supports various organisations and initiatives including, Girls Act, which aims to empower young women who are stigmatised and live with HIV, as well as the initiative Food for Health, which provides effective ways to receive the correct nutrition when living with HIV. 

Due to America cutting foreign financial aid since Trump started his second term as President of the United States, the self-funded model that the AHF uses does not rely in any way on the financing of the American government which makes their aim to support South Africa seamless and uninterrupted. 

The AHF also plans on fighting against stigmas that run in various communities regarding the virus and to redirect the harmful thinking surrounding people who live with this virus.

 “Stigma is a terrible issue. Many people with HIV are in monogamous relationships or were born with the virus. It is not anyone’s fault,”  said Wright via Channel Africa.

 In 2015, the AHF launched services that focus on reaching communities such as Heidelberg, as they have expanded to 10 sites within Gauteng in 2017. 

The AHF has been able to reach and support 2.5 million patients with health care as this visit is aimed at cementing their support for these patients in their respective communities. 

The AHF underwent site visits to Tshepisong clinic yesterday as well as Itirileng CHC in Dobsonville in order to increase more awareness on the virus and to engage with similar organizations fighting against HIV/AIDS.