Hirsch’s Hillcrest support of World Aids Day
Recently Hirsch’s in Hillcrest spoilt the staff and volunteers at the Hillcrest Aids centre to fresh coffee and muffins. “We decided to treat everyone at the centre in commemoration of World Aids day and thank them for all the work that they do for the community,” Said Sarah Brauns.
World AIDS Day theme focuses on “Getting to Zero: Zero new infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths” and calls for people to raise awareness and demonstrate solidarity towards those who are living with HIV/AIDS and commemorate those who have lost in their battle against AIDS.
The Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) is a dynamic, independent non-profit organisation with a range of programmes that respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic from several different angles. HACT serves several poverty-torn communities in the Valley of 1,000 Hills region – one of the epicentres of the world’s HIV pandemic – and staff have seen large shifts in the field of HIV/AIDS care over the 23 years that HACT has been working within these communities. Today, HIV is a manageable chronic illness, not a death sentence, and people are starting to understand that and come forward for testing and treatment before they are too ill to recover. Mary-Ann Carpenter, HACT Respite Unit Manager, says that carers within our Respite Unit has seen huge benefits from the fixed-dose combination antiretroviral (ARV) medication that has been rolled out during 2013, which involves one tablet instead of three to five pills a day, reducing the risk of patients defaulting from treatment. ‘It is clearly much easier for people to remember to take their medication now,’ she said, ‘and many now take it in the evening as they sit down to watch their favourite TV show!’
Hirsch’s in Hillcrest love giving back to the community and if you feel you would like to treat your team to fresh coffee and muffins please feel free to contact us to arrange a morning.