HIV/AIDS education, counselling and treatment

We provide information about HIV and AIDS, its prevention and how to live responsibly with an infection.

Blessed Gérard’s HAART Programme

Our HAART programme offers medical treatment and personal support to people living with HIV and AIDS in Zululand.

We do not just treat a disease. We care for people.

An HIV infection or an AIDS diagnosis need no longer be a death sentence. With timely treatment, personal care and reliable support, many people can regain hope and lead independent lives.

Read the stories from our HAART programme – newest first

Only a few decades ago, AIDS meant certain death for many people in Zululand. Families lost mothers and fathers, children became orphans, and entire village communities suffered the consequences of the epidemic.

Today there is hope. Modern antiretroviral medicines suppress the replication of HIV. This can prevent the infection from progressing to AIDS. Even for people who have already developed AIDS, consistent treatment can often considerably improve the immune system and overall health.

Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre has supported people living with HIV and AIDS for many years. In 2004, we launched our own HAART programme for highly active antiretroviral treatment of patients with AIDS. We combine medical treatment with personal care, social support and compassion, because successful therapy means far more than taking medication regularly.

Holistic care

Successful AIDS treatment involves far more than taking medication regularly. That is why we combine medical care with personal support and practical assistance.

Our programme includes:

careful preparation for antiretroviral therapy,
treatment of AIDS and associated illnesses,
regular medical check-ups,
support with taking medication reliably,
home visits,
nutrition advice and help with malnutrition,
psychosocial and pastoral support,
advice on social and financial difficulties.

In this way, we care not only for an illness but for the whole person, with their own story, family and prospects for the future.

The turning point

When we began our programme, antiretroviral medicines were beyond the reach of most people in Zululand. Many had lost all hope. Together with committed partners, we succeeded in establishing one of the region’s first community-based HAART programmes.

Treatment that changes lives

The impact of our programme can be seen above all in the lives of the people we support. With treatment, seriously ill patients can recover, care for their families again and develop new prospects for the future.

Many people who once had little hope of recovery can now lead active, independent lives for years. This depends on consistent treatment, reliable use of medication and continuing personal support.

For more than three decades, we have supported people living with HIV and AIDS in Zululand. Every successful treatment, every crisis overcome and every life saved strengthens our commitment to offer hope through medical care, human compassion and Christian charity.

International Recognition

The HIV support programme at Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre in Mandeni combines education, counselling and antiretroviral treatment. The team helps patients stay connected to care while respecting their privacy and circumstances. Consistent treatment and follow up care can help people living with HIV lead long, active lives. Please contact the Care Centre for information about its services.

In 2026, Father Gérard Lagleder presented the experiences of the HAART programme at Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre during a side event at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in New York. The presentation shows how community based treatment and personal support can be provided in rural areas.

Watch the presentation at the United Nations on YouTube