• South Africa
• Uganda
• India
• Burma

South Africa is currently experiencing one of the most severe AIDS epidemics in the world. At the end of 2007, there were approximately 5.7 million people living with HIV in South Africa, and according to UNAIDS almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day.

AA started in South Africa in 2002, with the invaluable assistance of Cape Town based Andrew Satow. Initially, we funded ARVs for 23 patients, one sadly died but the others regained their health and have now been found places on Government ARV programmes.

Trustee with AA Beneficiaries Cape Town RSA

"Without doubt access to ARV's funded by Aids Ark has kept these patients alive from 2002 until such time as we were able to find them places on the new Government Funded ARV programmes in 2005 & 2006. This support from Aids Ark has unquestionably spearheaded the formation of these new programmes". Dr Jenni Pitt, Desmond Tutu HIV Research Centre, Cape Town (2004).

In 2009, St Michael's Hospice, Nazareth House, Cape Town (www.nazhouse.org.za) requested funding for transport costs to allow them to take HIV+ patients to Government clinics for medical care and ARVs. These clinics are located in the communities where they reside or where they will be settling following their discharge for St Michael's Hospice. Much effort is focused on ensuring that strong relationships are established with these treatment centres and the staff who will continue to serve these patients. In this way, the treatment chain is firmly established, strengthened and maintained in the long-term. This, in turn, ensures greater adherence and compliance, resulting in ARV treatment programmes that achieve far greater success and individuals who are empowered to live healthily and positively with HIV. £4,000 /103 beneficiaries = £39 unit cost per year

Learn more

Read case studies of our work in South Africa HERE

In early 2009 Hope for Children (www.hopeforchildren.org) introduced us to the Kawempe Home Care Initiative - KHCI, a community based organisation that provides comprehensive holistic care to people with HIV/AIDS, TB and Cancer in Kawempe, near Kampala in Uganda. KHCI requested that we help them improve the quality of medical care for some of their HIV patients at their Kasangati "Out Reach" Clinic. This medical support does not include the funding of ARVs which are freely available in Uganda. £8,400 / 80 beneficiaries = £105 unit cost per year

Plus Kolkata and AA Beneficiaries Kolkata India

India, with its huge population has a massive HIV/AIDS problem. Despite the increase in wealth and improved life circumstances enjoyed by many, there remain millions who are malnourished, homeless and totally abandoned.

AA have been working through FXB India (see www.afxb.org) since 2005 and up to September 2008 were funding ARVs for 66 individuals. Through negotiation with the Clinton Fund we were successful in obtaining a year's free supply of ARVs for all our AA beneficiaries in September 2009 - a real red letter day for us. FXB India are now satisfied that the medical care (including the supply of free ARVs) provided by the Government is of adequate quality. All current AA Beneficiaries will now be transferred to Government clinics.

"AIDS ARK is doing God's work for those of our people who are suffering from HIV/AIDS. They identify opportunities where extreme need is supported by exemplary medical care. They fund this need and then work to leverage much greater assistance from much larger NGO's." Dr Raju, FXB India (2008)
FXB India, Andra Pradesh, inform us that many of individuals nationwide still require additional essential support, not provided by Government clinics. AA has agreed to fund some of these needs. £9,690 / 60 beneficiaries = £166 unit cost per year.

In Manipur state, on the border with Burma, a number of HIV+ Burmese refugees in urgent need of ARVs have been located. As refugees, they are not eligible for free care or ARVs through Indian Government clinics. AA has agreed to fund ARVs and to make a contribution toward medical staff and costs for 25 beneficiaries. FXB India runs this initiative. £7,178 / 25 beneficiaries = £287 unit cost per year. We are particularly keen to scale-up this support.

In Kolkata AA are funding a contribution to medical care and costs for 40 HIV+ individuals who, in theory, should be able to obtain ARVs from Government clinics - but they can't. This group comprises homosexual or transgender people who survive by selling sex. They are hugely vulnerable to HIV infection and are more despised and rejected than any other group; many are homeless and cast-out, even by their families. Plus Kolkata (www.pluskolkata.org) run this initiative. £6,055 / 40 beneficiaries = £151 unit cost per year.

LEARN MORE

Read case studies of our work in India HERE

Trustees with AA Beneficiaries and FXB Doctors Burma

The Aids epidemic in Burma is among the worst in Asia. The reaction of the national and international community has been slow. The severity of the problem is denied and acceptance of methods for prevention is slow and insufficient and there is stigmatisation of those infected. The government has established a National Aids Programme but its funding and effective responses are insufficient. People at high risk for HIV, IVDU's and prostitutes, are harassed and arrested, making them difficult to reach and vulnerable to exploitation. Burma is the lowest recipient of overseas development aid in the world - $2.8 USD per person per year whereas in Cambodia and Laos this figure is respectively $38 and $50 per person, per year. In April 2009 the Burmese Department of Health estimated that 80,000 people are in urgent need ARVs while only 15,000 are actually receiving them; the others will soon be dead.

MAM AA Beneficiary Burma

AA has been working through FXB Burma (see www.afxb.org) since 2005 and, up until September 2009, has been funding ARVs and medical care for 20 individuals. They have now been found secure ARV funding from the 3 Diseases Fund (3DF) and will continue to receive medical care from FXB Burma.

Dr Frank Smithuis, has headed Medecins sans Frontiers (MSF) Burma for the last 14 years. MSF currently provide ARVs and medical care to 12,000 individuals in Burma. In April 2009 Dr Frank left MSF to start his own initiative Medical Action Myanmar - MAM (medicalaction.mm@gmail.com). AA are funding ARVs and making a contribution towards MAM medical costs. £12,000 / 50 beneficiaries = £248 unit cost per year. We now plan to increase this number to 70 beneficiaries. We are particularly keen to increase this support.

LEARN MORE

Read case studies of our work in Burma HERE

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