Tutu Tester Mobile Clinic

According to the organisers, the concept represents the DTHF's vision that HIV should be viewed as a chronic treatable condition, rather than one attached to stigma, discrimination, and shame. The mobile testing unit operates in a variety of sites in and around Cape Town including Imizamo Yethu, Nyanga, Phillipi, Masiphumelele, and Gugulethu. The organisers say that the mobile testing site offers greater privacy, since it tests for various diseases, and is also convenient, especially since waiting times are significantly less than at clinics. The Tutu Tester is planning to add a test for tuberculosis (TB) to its services.

All clients testing negative are counselled on how to preserve their negative status using what the organisers call individualised and innovative risk reduction counselling. Those testing positive are helped to identify what stage they are in with the help of an innovative CD4 count machine and physical examination, to enable appropriate referrals to other centres for follow-up care.

The Tutu Tester crew screens an average of 40 to 60 people per day and more than 7,000 people have received testing and counselling. Organisers point out that many patients seem to prefer mobile clinics over public clinics. Tutu Tester does not provide treatment, but does provide professional counselling to help people cope with bad news. "We want the patient to leave the mobile clinic being relaxed. We do not want the outside world to read the news from our patients' faces," said Nokwayiyo Racaza, one of the three Tutu Tester counsellors.

HIV/AIDS

Organisers say that since the programme's inception, thousands of individuals have tested on the Tutu Tester. Almost half of those testing are men and many have never before had an HIV test. The project's objective is for all South Africans to know their HIV status and to test at least annually. It's focus is to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition and transmission in all tested clients irrespective of whether the test is positive or negative.

According to organisers, tuberculosis (TB) is rampant in South Africa, especially in communities with a high HIV prevalence. It is believed that 54 % of South Africans who are HIV positive are also infected with TB, which mostly affects the lungs and is transmitted through coughing, sneezing, and spitting.