Sasolburg, South Africa  – Sasol launched the second phase of the Sasol HIV/Aids Support Programme on 6 April 2017, in cooperation with the Free State Department of Health and a local NGO, Nurse-based Initiation of Antiretroviral Project (NIAP) that renders primary health care services in the community.

The Sasol HIV/Aids Support Programme is aligned with the new National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV, TB and STIs that is a call to action for all South Africans to play a part in achieving the goals of the plan. As one of the objectives of the NSP is to intensify focus on most severely affected geographic areas and populations, the Sasol HIV/Aids Support Programme is setting up testing villages in Zamdela, Deneysville, Oranjeville, Parys, Tumahole, Koppies, Villiers, Frankfort, Tweeling, Kroonstad and Viljoenskroon over the next three months. More than 200 community health workers will conduct testing and screening at the villages, while also going from door-to-door in the community.

“As Tuberculosis (TB) remained the leading cause of death for many South Africans in the past three years, we launched the second phase of the Sasol HIV/Aids Support Programme during TB month that is annually commemorated across the globe to raise awareness about TB,” said Vusi Cwane, Sasol’s Sasolburg Operations Vice President, Corporate Affairs.

During the first phase of the project, conducted during 2016, the programme reached more than 39 000 patients of whom almost 32 200 were screened for TB. Four percent of the tested patients were referred for treatment. Out of the 14 600 patients tested for HIV/Aids, 12.28% tested positive and were referred for treatment. The second phase of the programme aims to again reach more than 30 000 people over the next three months.

“Sasol is a stern supporter of health in our communities as is demonstrated by our partnership with the Free State Department of Health. We upgraded and expanded four clinics in Zamdela and provided four fully equipped mobile clinics to take primary health care into the community. In addition, Sasol is currently building a new clinic in Sasolburg that will be completed by the end of April 2017” said Cwane.