Professor Robin Wood

The Foundation had its beginnings as the HIV Research Unit based at the New Somerset Hospital in the early 1990’s and was well known as one of the first public clinics to offer antiretroviral therapy to those living with HIV. 

Now based in Cape Town with a clinical trials unit at the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the Medical Faculty of the University of Cape Town and community sites in Nyanga and Masiphumelele, the foundation brings together a unique combination of academic expertise and social activism.

All of the Foundation’s activities are underpinned by research and evaluation and the DTHF impacts policy and practice both nationally and internationally through relevant research and peer reviewed

Assoc. Professor Linda-Gail Bekker

publications, as well as feedback to government, civil society and community at large.

Over the years, the Foundation has become a source of advice for medical practitioners and support for patients seeking therapy with its experienced and dedicated team of over 100 doctors, nurses, researchers and community trained field workers, all working together to provide a holistic approach to the HIV epidemic.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and former UCT vice-chancellor, Mamphela Ramphela at the opening of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, 2004.

The DTHF continues to support and evaluate this project, which is called ‘Usapho Lwethu’ (Our Family Clinic). 

Attached to this clinic is a community-based project, called ‘Sizophila’ (We will Survive), which trains HIV-infected individuals to educate and support patients commencing treatment. 

A second site, with a purpose-built research centre has been developed at Masiphumelele where over 500 patients have been commenced on antiretroviral treatment since June 2004. Here, an operational study is underway comparing doctor versus nurse case management of patients on antiretroviral treatment as part of a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded study.

Venapuncture at the Masiphumelele Clinic

The Masiphumelele site also investigates the impact of antiretroviral treatment on the community tuberculosis rates.

The DTHF in collaboration with the Cell-LIfe group at the University of Cape Town, have developed a specialised antiretroviral dispensing system that allows for the ease of ARV drug distribution on a large scale from a central source. iDART (Intelligent Dispensing of ART) was developed from open source software and can be freely downloaded form the Cell-Life website.

The Clinical Trials unit, located at the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, has enrolled patients for four active studies of new antiretrovirals and two studies investigating antiretroviral mutations. The studies are being conducted on both naïve and non-naïve HIV positive patients and include a new NNRTI, Protease Inhibitors and CCR5 co-receptor antagonists.

Sizophila paediatric counsellor, Flora Thobeka talking to Zackie Achmat at the launch of the Hope Calendar at the Brendon Bell Roberts Gallery in Cape Town.

In conjunction with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI), the DTHF is involved in preparing communities for HIV vaccine trials.

Evaluation of community understanding of HIV has been investigated with a series of cross sectional surveys and innovative drama based education modalities are being extended to cover HIV and vaccine awareness and education. This has already been applied with good effect in Masiphumelele.

The vaccine division at the DTHF is a world leader in adolescent prevention strategies, in particular those involving adolescents in clinical trials of HIV vaccines.

The DTHF is actively engaged in the training and equipping of health care professionals, lay counselors and educators to meet the challenges of HIV care and prevention. Seven three day ART training courses have been completed for the Northern Cape Department of Health and the foundation remains involved in a mentorship programme in the Eden District of the Western Cape. 

New initiatives include developing a Youth and Women’s Health Centre in Masiphumelele, distance learning for health care professionals in the management of ARV’s and a voluntary counseling and testing initiative, facilitated by a mobile clinic that can move in and around communities.