Images shot ahead of the AIDS2016 Conference taking place in the city from 18 – 22 July 2016, this photo and video series covers the work currently being done by Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in a remote rural part of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

In April 2011, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), together with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health started the ‘Bending the Curves’ project in the Eshowe and Mbongolwane areas of uMlalazi Municipality, uThungulu District.

This largely rural area, which has a population of 114,000, has one of the highest rates of HIV and TB in South Africa: 1 in 4 people aged 15 – 59 years old is HIV positive.

MSF is working with local NGOs and communities to pilot new and innovative ‘models of care’ to significantly reduce the rate of HIV and TB infections.
These community-driven models include strategies for prevention, testing, treatment and adherence and include:
- PREVENTION: Condom distribution and Male Medical Circumcision
- TESTING: Mobile Testing Unit for testing at outlying schools, colleges and local community events, Fixed Testing Sites located in central Eshowe and at Mbongolwane Hospital, Community Health Agents who deliver HIV counselling & testing door-to-door in remote rural areas.
- TREATMENT: Community Models of Care: Facility-based Adherence Clubs & Community ART Groups.
- ENHANCED ADHERENCE COUNSELLING: delivered by lay counsellors who regularly test patients’ viral loads.