Keiskamma Project, South Africa

The Keiskamma AIDS Treatment Program aims to promote access to health care in and around the community of Hapsburg at the mouth of the Keiskamma River in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. This is a particularly beautiful region and such natural beauty is marred by the poverty and the fact that for most of the residents there is little access to health care and other essential services.

In particular the project aims to provide effective and sensitive care for people infected with and affected by HIV, both as a care provider and in partnership with state primary health care structures. Keiskamma supports and advocates for people's rights to access quality health care.

The Keiskamma AIDS Treatment Program developed as a function of the Keiskamma Art Project Trust. The director of the trust, Dr Carol Baker, is a medical doctor and in response to the overwhelming needs of the community, in addition to managing the poverty alleviation project, began to work part time in the primary care clinics in Peddie South in 2002. The mission and objectives of the Keiskamma Trust were thus expanded to include health and accessibility of health services for local communities.

The burden of HIV/AIDS was immediately identified as one of the most serious health problems facing the community. In 2003 the Trust, with the help of a private donor, employed a full-time HIV educator, and in 2004 Dr Baker began treating patients with HAART (Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy), paying for the costly drugs out of her own pocket and with the help of donations

In January 2005, the Keiskamma Trust gained access to PEPFAR funding through a partnership with IYDSA and CRS, and was able to employ additional staff and provide HAART to a far larger group of people. At present the Umtha Welanga HIV/Aids Treatment Program provides HAART to over 130 people, with between 5 and 10 new patients being put onto treatment ever month. The program provides the only HIV treatment in the district, and increasingly patients travel from neighbouring districts seeking care.

It quickly became obvious that if the ARV program was to be a success we needed some way of overcoming the geographical barriers to patient care, as well as providing access to clinical care. In order to do this, an in-patient care facility was established, where patients could be provided with clinical care and helped to adapt to the stringent HAART regimens in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Future Plans

Keiskamma have identified the following goals for 2006:

1. The response to our in-patient care facility has been extremely positive. At the moment we are extremely overburdened, and we hope to employ additional staff and upgrade our equipment in order to improve the care we are provide.
2. We have received requests from two other communities for us to establish similar centers in their vicinity, an we have undertaken to do so. We hope to eventually have a network of such centers where people can be cared for and receive treatment close to their homes.
3. We have developed a network of treatment supporters, with representatives in every village that we serve. This has proved to be an extremely successful method of communication with and monitoring our patients. We would like to be able to expand this network.
4. Transport in our area is a major problem. We currently operate two vehicles to provide transport for our patients too and from their homes, the health center and hospital. The maintenance and running costs of these vehicles is a major drain on our resources. We would like to expand our transport program and upgrade one of the vehicles to something more appropriate for patient transport.

How you can help by Donations, Visiting the Area and Other Ways to support the Keiskamma Project

Please send your donations to Community Projects Africa using either the Just Giving facility on our web site or sending your payment direct to the charity. UK tax-payers: please don't forget to use the Gift Aid form should you be sending your donation direct.

Our recommended tour operator Gane and Marshall is able to organise visits to Eastern Cape as part of a safari programme and the staff at Gane and Marshall will help you include a visit to the project in your holiday plans.