The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation based at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has changed its name to the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF).
This move represents the widening scope of the organisation’s work in public health research and community-driven health responses, and acknowledges its expanding expertise that, directly or indirectly, contribute to its fight against HIV.
The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation has for the past two decades focused on improving upon the best practices to prevent, treat and ultimately control diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, sexually transmitted infections and other related diseases, while contributing to local and national health policy.
The original HIV Research Unit was the first public clinic in South Africa to offer antiretroviral therapy to those living with HIV.
“There was a time when we needed to have an intense focus on HIV, but that has changed.”
“There was a time when we needed to have an intense focus on HIV, but that has changed over the years. The 2018 [International AIDS Society]–Lancet Commission Report speaks to a change in the HIV field, a need to look to the long-term sustainability of our HIV response,” said Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, the DTHF’s chief operating officer.
This need has been further highlighted during the coronavirus pandemic as the foundation adjusts its research sites to incorporate COVID-19 research.
Expansion
“Huge progress has been made – we now have successful treatment and options for [HIV] prevention. But we still have a very long road ahead of us. We need sustainable long-term strategies that find common ground with global health more broadly,” Bekker added.
“This embraces HIV and other communicable diseases, as well as sexual and reproductive health and improving health outcomes for key populations, such as adolescents and young women and girls.”
The organisation will continue to work under the recognisable and trusted DTHF rainbow and name of its patron, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who serves as a constant reminder that the work is in the service of its beneficiaries.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Please view the republishing articles page for more information.
COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March and implement a national lockdown from 26 March.
UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated regularly with the latest COVID-19 information.
Getting credible, evidence-based, accessible information and recommendations relating to COVID-19
The Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, are producing educational video material for use on digital platforms and in multiple languages. The information contained in these videos is authenticated and endorsed by the team of experts based in the Department of Medicine. Many of the recommendations are based on current best evidence and are aligned to provincial, national and international guidelines. For more information on UCT’s Department of Medicine, please visit the website.
To watch more videos like these, visit the Department of Medicine’s YouTube channel.
As the COVID-19 crisis drags on and evolves, civil society groups are responding to growing and diversifying needs – just when access to resources is becoming more insecure, writes UCT’s Prof Ralph Hamann.
03 Jul 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedThe Covid-19 crisis has reinforced the global consequences of fragmented, inadequate and inequitable healthcare systems and the damage caused by hesitant and poorly communicated responses.
24 Jun 2020 - >10 min read OpinionOur scientists must not practise in isolation, but be encouraged to be creative and increase our knowledge of the needs of developing economies, write Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, vice-chancellor of UCT, and Professor Thokozani Majozi from the University of the Witwatersrand.
09 Jun 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedSouth Africa has been recognised globally for its success in flattening the curve, which came as a result of President Ramaphosa responding quickly to the crisis, writes Prof Alan Hirsch.
28 Apr 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedIn an email to the UCT community, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is a rapidly changing epidemic. [...] Information [...] will be updated as and when new information becomes available.”
We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.