Witkoppen Clinic’s HIV clinic was established in 1994 to meet the need in the surrounding communities for quality HIV care. The clinic operates from Monday to Friday and provides HIV testing services as well as thorough, up-to-date clinical and psychosocial care to children and adults living with HIV. 

This care includes:

• HIV testing services (HTS) including pre-test and post-test counselling; links to appropriate HIV prevention Prep, treatment and care services, and other clinical support; self-testing; and couple counselling
• Regular check-ups by an HIV-trained clinician
• Specialist paediatrician who manages children
• Provision of antiretroviral treatment (ART) and other necessary medications
• Treatment of any other comorbid disease or opportunistic infections
• Regular monitoring of CD4 count, viral load and other blood test. The results are checked by medical staff.Pap smears on an annual basis or as dictated by the guidelines
• Ongoing support provided by the HIV counselling staff including adherence counselling and group counselling

All patients have the option to refuse testing after the pre-test counselling. All children under the age of 12 are tested once for HIV (with the consent of their parent or guardian), wherever possible. Newly diagnosed HIV positive patients receive their antiretroviral treatment (ART) on the same day.

PrEP and PEP
We provide Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to anyone over the age of 15 who deems themselves to be at substantial risk of HIV infection. 

PrEP is the use of antiretroviral drugs by HIV-negative people before potential exposure to prevent acquiring HIV. 

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is started for anyone who has been exposed to HIV, within 72 hours of exposure to prevent infection. 

National adherence strategy

Witkoppen Clinic supports South Africa’s national adherence strategy (NAS) for all patients with well controlled chronic diseases like HIV, diabetes mellitus or hypertension. This system makes it easier for patients to access the services they need to control their chronic disease and adhere to their prescribed medication. 

Patients are provided with options on where to collect medication. These include external pick-up points (PUP) like a registered Clicks or Dischem; and facility pick-points where patients have repeat scripts and can report straight to the pharmacy after collecting their files. 

Some of our patients chose to collect their medicine from pharmacy dispensing units (PDUs) at Alexandra and Bambanani Malls. The PDUs look like ATMs. They dispense medication after the patient receives a SMS. 

HIV care, treatment and support at Witkoppen Clinic is funded by PEPFAR (the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) through a grant from USAID in partnership with Anova Health Institute.