Research indicates that 4,2 million South Africans are HIV Positive.(1999 pre-natal survey)

Between 40-50% of persons infected with HIV are also infected with TB.

Pulmonary TB is one of the major opportunistic infections and major causes of death in AIDS patients, even though TB is 100% curable.

TADSA is contracted to the National TB Control Program and National HIV/AIDS and STD Directorate to provide training, research and capacity building for their National TB/HIV/AIDS Program in all 9 provinces.

TASDSA has a partnership with Doctors of the World in New York who supply epidemiological support, management consultantancies, networking opportunities and a link into the international health arena.

TADSA works in collaboration with SANTA- the South National TB Association and NACOSA- the National AIDS Convention of South Africa and a range of TB, and HIV/AIDS delivery organisations. TADSA is based in Cape Town and has a staff of 8 professional trainers and support staff.

The project consists of 4 main components:

TADSA works in collaboration with the Provincial Health Departments in all 9 provinces to establish one new TB/HIV/AIDS Model Demonstration and Training District (DTD) per year per province. By the end of 2002, the project will have established 27 new Model DTD’s.

Each DTD will have at least 10 trained trainers and 10 facilitators. The trainers and facilitators, who are employed by local NGO’s and community organisations and the health services are then expected to train at least 10 treatment supporters per trainer/facilitator team. Each team of facilitators and treatment supporters are then expected to establish a community-based program which will include both DOT for TB patients and HIV/AIDS services. The HIV/AIDS services presently includecondom distribution, encouragement of voluntary counseling and testing, referral to local services for HIV-infected persons, and provision of basic HIV/AIDS education.

In addition to the National TB/HIV/AIDS Implementation Program, TADSA will facilitate the expansion of community TB and HIV/AIDS programs through additional training and capacity building in especially under-resourced regions carrying the worst burdens of disease. The Western Cape, Northern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and the Northern Province have been identified as priority provinces, but pockets of great need exist in all 9 South African provinces, particularly in rural areas. The nature of the provincial outreach work will be determined by a needs analysis, and could include setting up further DTD’s, management and financial training for NGO’s, and/or treatment supporter and nurse training . In 2000 TADSA focused its attention on the Western Cape and Gauteng. Expansion in 2001 will begin with the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces, but may occur at any site where need is great and stakeholder commitment exists.

TADSA provides organizational support for groups whose personnel it has trained. Organizational support and capacity building will focus on the areas of advocacy, project management, and fundraising skills.