About Us

Established in October 2002, the Umdoni and Vulamehlo HIV/AIDS Association is made up of people concerned about the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on rural communities in the UGU district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

 

Members of the Association include health care professionals, nongovernmental organisations and members of the target communities who have been active in community based health care over the past few years.

 

The Association focuses on providing care and support to some of the poorest and least accessible communities in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

 

The programmes managed by the Association promote an integrated response to the impact of HIV/AIDS. They address both preventive and curative needs; and respond to the physical, social and psychological impacts of HIV/AIDS.

 

Recognising the scale of the impact of the disease, and the shortage of resources, the programmes aim to harness the skills and resources found within target communities.

 

 

Supporting children orphaned by HIV and AIDS , by enabling mothers living with HIV/AIDS to access life sustaining treatment, and supporting grandmothers who care for orphans. 

 

Building capacity in Community Care and Support Groups and providing information and lifeskills needed to prevent new infections and live positively with HIV

 

Assisting with the provision of nutrition and development of small projects for livelihood support

 

Linking programmes to public and privately run health care services, and improving access to ARV treatment

 

Involvement in the establishment of Early Childhood Development Centres (crèches) and ensuring access for vulnerable children

 

Encouraging behavioural change through information sharing and emphasis on Positive Living.