Objectives:

•  Develop a model for HIV/Aids care in the agricultural sector, targeting agricultural workers with a mobile clinic

In 2004 a second HAART project was launched in which the target group are farm workers. Farm workers represent approximately 10% of the total labour force of South Africa and are of enormous importance to maintain the good standards and volumes of food production. Often these workers have little possibilities to access far away clinics, which often also do not provide a good HIV/Aids care to the population it serves. Instead of bringing the patient to the health care facility, the idea was born to start a mobile HIV/Aids care unit and thus it was decided to visit the farms with a mobile clinic.

Firstly an AIDS Awareness Team was sent to the participating farms in order to inform, create awareness and de-stigmatise the farm population, as a first step towards treatment on the farm. Each day the mobile clinic visits a different farm. Counsellors educate the farm workers about HIV/Aids and inform them about the possibilities for testing for HIV. Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is done on a daily basis. When tested positive, a doctor or professional nurse will further examine the patient and highly active anti-retroviral treatment ( HAART ) will be offered the moment the patient is eligible and committed to lifelong treatment. Laboratory monitoring and other facilitating services for this project are provided through the Ndlovu ATC.