The Deputy Minister of Defence, Ms Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, has launched the HIV treatment project at 121 Batallion in Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal today. "Phidisa", which means "to heal", is a clinical research project aimed at providing treatment options for HIV positive members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and their families.
In 1996 free care was extended to all those attending government Primary Health Care facilities, and in 2003 free health care was extended to those with disabilities. Like water committees, community policing forums and school governing bodies, these health committees will bring community representatives together with health care providers and government representatives to ensure quality health care and communicate and support health campaigns.