Masai for Africa Campaign
In 2005, the Masai Centre for Local, Regional and Global Health opened. It currently serves Guelph, Waterloo Region and the Grey-Bruce Counties with high quality care, education and research for those affected by HIV/AIDS. But the province’s 14th HIV/AIDS clinic reaches well beyond our own community. In 2006, the centre launched its “Masai for Africa Campaign” , with a goal to raise $1,000,000 for an AIDS clinic in Lesotho, Africa.
Photo © Steve Simon, used with permission
Dr. Philip Berger examines Abia Sootho, suffering from a potentially fatal AIDS-related pneumonia.
This clinic—Tšepong, which means “A Place Called Hope”—is supported by the OHAfrica project (insert link – www.ohafrica.ca), a joint initiative of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and its affiliated health research foundation, The Change Foundation (TCF). The OHAfrica project was launched on World AIDS Day, 2004, in response to a challenge made to the OHA by Stephen Lewis, the UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, to take a leadership role in fighting AIDS in Africa.
OHAfrica is supporting the Government of Lesotho’s national HIV/AIDS strategy by helping to implement an antiretroviral (ARV) drug therapy program for people living with HIV/AIDS. The Tšepong Clinic was the first public HIV/AIDS treatment centre. With support from OHAfrica and its team of Canadian health care professionals, the Tšepong Clinic continues to be the largest AIDS clinic in the country. By July 2006, there were over 5,000 HIV positive patients registered at Tšepong, including 158 children, and over 1,400 people receiving antiretroviral drugs.
Photo by Joanne McAuley, used with permission
OHAfrica was initially funded by a three-year grant from The Change Foundation, which comes to an end in March 2007. OHAfrica is currently building partnerships with other funders and supporters in Canada to continue funding support to the Tšepong Clinic, and to help build a long-term program to support people affected by AIDS in Lesotho. Support from the Greystone Health Trust and the Masai Centre is helping to ensure the future and long-term sustainability of OHAfrica and its work in Lesotho.
OHAfrica needs our support to ensure that people affected by AIDS have continued access to lifesaving treatment and care. The University of Guelph is stepping up to the challenge to help keep this important project alive and is joining the Masai Centre in its million dollar campaign. This is a picture of how closely tied your donation is to the situation in Lesotho:
- $17 provides one month’s worth of care to one patient at the Tšepong Clinic;
- $200 provides care to one patient at the Tšepong Clinic for one full year;
- $1,500 covers the cost of clinical consultations and adherence training to all new patients enrolled on antiretroviral drugs at the Tšepong Clinic for an entire month.
When we all work together, there is hope.
In June 2006, President Alastair Summerlee and other campus partners started “The University of Guelph Masai Project: For Africa, For AIDS, For Hope.” As a university community, we not only wanted to acknowledge the ongoing work of the Masai Centre, we wanted to participate in it. As the Bracelet of Hope initiative unfolds, our commitment continues. Our goal is to support the Bracelet of Hope initiative, bringing universities together and facilitating bracelet sales across the country. As Dr. Summerlee has noted, “This is our opportunity to work toward a common goal, partnering locally, making a difference where difference is needed.”
Photo by Joanne McAuley, used with permission
Donations
- $17 provides one month’s worth of care to one patient at the Tšepong Clinic;
- $200 provides care to one patient at the Tšepong Clinic for a full year;
- $1,500 covers the cost of clinical consultations and adherence training to all new patients enrolled on antiretroviral drugs at the Tšepong Clinic for an entire month;
- $8,500 provides counselling and HIV testing to 500 new patients;
- $15,500 provides one year’s worth of care to the 76 children with AIDS who receive antiretroviral drug treatment at the Tšepong Clinic;
- $1,260 covers the salary of one local Lesotho nurse at the Tšepong Clinic for one month; $15,120 covers her salary for one year;
- $15,000 will help OHAfrica launch an adherence support program, providing transportation for patients to visit the Tšepong Clinic and filter clinics near their homes, and provide stipends to volunteers who will serve as "treatment buddies."
All donations can be made directly to the Masai for Africa Campaign. Please note that your are donating to the campaign in partnership with the University of Guelph, either within the online form or on your donation cheque. Tax receipts will be issued through the Masai Centre.