In 2001 Rev Neill Robertson had the vision that the Alberton Methodist Church should have an Outreach project which included a Clinic. AMCARE was birthed and registered as an NPO on 17 January 2002. Our HIV & AIDS services developed from having 10 Caregivers providing Home- and Community Based Care(HCBC) in the townships to the current 29.
Early in our journey we entered into a partnership with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Clinics in the Greater Alberton area and started providing food to patients on the days they received their TB medication. The Clinics in return referred patients to AMCARE for HCBC. This relationship led to the Ekurhuleni Metro asking AMCARE to start a Voluntary Counseling and Testing Clinic at our site in Newmarket Estates. AMCARE was subsequently faced with the task of having to transfer HIV+ patients to various Hospitals and Clinics (currently Germiston Hospital) to receive Antiretroviral Medication (ARV).
In April 2007 Rev John Stack introduced AMCARE to Right-to-Care with the view of exploring the possibility of starting an ARV Clinic at AMCARE. The first meeting with the Department of Health and Right-to-Care was scheduled on 18 June 2007 and on 9 July 2007 it was agreed that AMCARE would provide a Down-referral Clinic. AMCARE would provide the infrastructure and manage the Clinic, Department of Health would provide ARV Medication and Laboratory Services and Right-to-Care (through PEPFAR and USAID) funding for personnel.
Funds were raised from Joy Mining Manufacturers, Atlas Copco, Otis Elevators, Innovation Group, Air Liquide, Vital Air and some private donors to the amount of R1,6 million. A custom-made clinic was ordered from Solid Build Mobiles, a local Alberton company. The Clinic was completed in May 2009 and named Injabulo (isiZulu for “Joy”).
The dedication service by Rev Dr Peter Storey of our new Injabulo Clinic was on Sunday 19 July 2009. The dedication was well attended by members of the Alberton Methodist Church, Alberton Mission Circuit, the local Ward Counselor and members of the broader community. Rev Storey requested that the words of John 10:10b be placed above the door of the Clinic “Jesus said: I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” |
As per agreement with the Gauteng Department of Health and Right to Care, AMCARE Injabulo Clinic will provide a service to HIV & AIDS and TB patients. Patients testing positive for HIV & AIDS at the VCT Clinic at AMCARE Injabulo Clinic will be referred to the Germiston Hospital (or Natalspruit Hospital) and placed on ARV medication. As soon as the CD4 count has been stabilized, the patient is referred back to AMCARE Injabulo Clinic for ongoing monitoring on compliance to medication and social work services.
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