Towards the end of 2004, the National Department of Health approached LifeLine Southern Africa, with a proposal. The request was to expand the national, tollfree AIDS Helpline to include a support line that would provide callers with immediate, direct access to specialized antiretroviral treatment support and information.
The opening of the Line, on 10 August 2005, allowed the AIDS Helpline is a national HIV and AIDS toll-free Helpline, currently part of the South African Government’s National Strategic Plan (207-2011). The Treatment Line is now a specialised extension of the AIDS Helpline and is situated within LifeLine’s HIV and AIDS Wellness Programme, and integrally linked to LifeLine’s other responses in the gender, stress, trauma and suicide arenas.
In order to call the Treatment Line, callers have to call the National AIDS Helpline (0800-012-322) and they will be transferred.
Professional Nurses provide quality, accurate and anonymous telephone information and/or education on antiretroviral, TB and STI treatment, and provide relevant specialized medical referrals to individuals affected and infected by HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
The Treatment Line also serves as a ‘gateway’ to:
- An onsite post-test “Ongoing Support Centre” based at LifeLine’s Secretariat Office
- Specialised care and follow-up at partner clinical sites and community-based programmes
A temporary agreement with the University of Cape Town’s Medical Institute has also been entered into - to enable the transferal of highly specialized calls, from the Treatment Line, to doctors on staff at the University.
A centralised, standardised, ongoing staff training and skills development programme focuses on both group and individual needs and supports quality assurance.
This programme incorporates the following:
- one-on-one debriefing sessions provided on request to all AIDS Helpline/Treatment Line staff
- counselling referrals provided for staff who are experiencing personal issues
- regular group training sessions for all staff, scheduled in order to keep them updated on developments in the HIV and AIDS field