A ministry founded by the Evangelical Church in South Africa in 2001 Project Positive Ray has for the last 7 years been reaching out into communities around Port Shepstone caring for those affected by HIV AIDS. Positive Ray is an SIM "Hope for AIDS" project http://www.hopeforaids.org/default_flash.asp. Along with Two Tunics, Positive Ray is a founding member of the Ugu AIDS Alliance, an alliance of Christian organizations doing HIV/AIDS work in the Ugu District of KwaZulu-Natal.
Positive Ray Community Workers visit AIDS patients in their homes providing holistic care and support.
The work of Project Positive Ray (PPR) focuses on:
- HIV Prevention Education emphasizing the ABC approach; A - Abstain, B - Be Faithful, C – Commitment. This work is done in the community through house to house visits as well as in schools and factories. All of the education programs strongly motivate people to be tested and know their status.
- VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing): A mobile VCT unit is operated jointly with Genesis. Community based testing is done at community centers, offering a convient and confidential alternative to government clinics for HIV testing. The programs goal is to test 100 people per month.
- Home Based Care for those living with HIV/AIDS. Community Workers receive a stipend to lovingly take care of those infected with HIV within their own communities. They educate patients and families including motivating them to access CD4 count testing and ARV treatment. They assist with transportation to clinics and hospitals, food aid, bathing and physical care as well as spiritual and emotional support.
- Equipping Pastors and Churches through Biblical education in the context of HIV/AIDS. Activities include Pastor and church leaders conferences and seminars. Also Bible studies on topics such as “Christian Living” and “HIV/AIDS and Sexual Purity”.
Two Tunics provides technical assistance to Project Positive Ray. Dr Mike Nash is the medical advisor to PPR and helps to plan and oversee the HBC and VCT (HIV testing) programs. Two Tunics has assisted PPR in getting funding from USAID through PEPFAR (President's Emergency Fund For AIDS Releif). |
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