Real life experiences bring hope to communities hardest hit by HIV epidemic

The ARV Education Series is an exceptional patient education DVD that highlights the true-life stories of a group of remarkable South Africans who are living with HIV and successfully taking ARV therapy. The people whose stories are told, are real people, not actors and they cover a host of issues related to HIV and ARV therapy including: testing and disclosure, TB, starting ARV therapy, healthy living, pregnancy and ARV therapy, and children and ARV therapy. Furthermore, this DVD will make huge strides to dispel the many existing misconceptions that still surround HIV, AIDS and ARV treatment today. The DVD is available in Xhosa and Zulu with English subtitles.

“Whilst all of the inserts showcase a variety of issues related to HIV and ARV therapy, there is a common theme of the importance of family support that is evident in all of the segments,” comments Wendy Townsend, Deputy Country Director, BroadReach Healthcare. “An HIV diagnosis affects not only an individual, but their entire family too. As a result, it's important that we begin to focus on the family unit as a whole when it comes to delivering messages related to HIV prevention and testing, and treatment initiation and adherence,” she adds.

“KwaZulu-Natal is labouring under a quadruple burden of diseases, including hypertension and tuberculosis, of which HIV tops the list,” states Dr Femi Olowookorun, Chief Technical Advisor: District Clinical Health Services (Family Physician). “There are currently 14 000 people on ARV therapy in the Ugu district, but with a total population of 750 000 - coupled with a prevalence of approximately 20% - there is a serious need to encourage HIV testing and get more people on ARV therapy.”

“It is critical that we break down the barriers to adherence. We need our community to understand the importance of testing early, starting treatment at the right time, and disclosing their status to their family members. Without following these three steps, adherence levels can be severely hindered,” Dr Olowookorun adds.

It is hoped that the first-hand accounts highlighted in the ARV Education Series will encourage community members within the Ugu district to come forward and test early and start treatment at the right time.

The DVD was initially launched in the Ugu district, KwaZulu-Natal, but will be rolled-out to key districts in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape within the coming months. Ultimately, five hospitals, 62 clinics and 25 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will receive copies of the ARV Education Series. In real terms, this equates to approximately 288 000 people per month, who will get the opportunity to see this DVD. It will be available for use in hospital and clinic waiting rooms, small group discussions and health education sessions.

“I encourage healthcare workers to ensure that the DVDs are shown continuously in patient waiting areas and the public should not hesitate to ask to see these DVDs when they visit their local clinics or hospitals,” Dr Olowookorun concludes.

A special word of appreciation is extended to the individuals who participated in this documentary for being prepared to share their stories publicly in the interest of helping others cope with and prevent the spread of HIV.

For copies of the DVD contact BroadReach Healthcare on (011) 482 7596 or (021) 514 1333 or send an e-mail to