Local organisations receive grant award worth thousands

An organisation fighting Aids based in Pretoria received a R600 000 grant from a U.S. initiative to combat the disease recently.

Access Chapter 2 was one of 40 community-based organisations from all provinces which received a grant from PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).

PEPFAR is a five-year bilateral commitment by the United States government to support HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs in developing countries.

These organisations provide a range of services, including HIV testing and counselling, prevention, care and support.

They were honoured at a ceremony in Johannesburg.

“The successful recipients were selected after a highly competitive grants process,” said PEPFAR spokesperson Rue Rushwaya.

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She said the grant would last the organisation the next two years or so.

“Community organisations are essential to South Africa’s continued HIV response. They understand their communities best and they are often a person’s first point of entry into HIV care and treatment.”

She said PEPFAR recognized the critical role that community-based organizations had to play in shared efforts with the government, NGOs and civil society to fight HIV.

“We are committed to ensuring South Africans have the chance to live longer, happier, more productive lives and to prevent new HIV infections.

“The U.S is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with South Africa.”

PEPFAR has partnered with the South African government to support HIV prevention and treatment since 2004.

It had invested more R80-billion) in HIV programs in South Africa.

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“This award is very important to the community since we deal with marginalized communities such as LGBTQI residents,” said Access Chapter 2 executive director Steve Letsike.

Letsike said the grant would open up many opportunities for them.

“We are very excited for this grant and what we can do with it.”

Letsike said organisations such as Access Chapter 2 were essential in their communities because most of their patients were discriminated against.

He said patients still suffered rejection at various clinics because of homophobia.

“This grant will ensure a better health outcome for residents,” he said.

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