Mazabuka ART Centre

During our first week of induction to work at the District AIDS Task Force (DATF) we have met with a number of stakeholders from the mayor, town clerk and district commissioner to various NGOs like World Vision and Plan. The most disturbing visit by far was a trip to Mazabuka District hospital and in particular the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre. For such a small building it was packed with people receiving HIV and AIDS screening, testing, counselling and treatment. There were rows and rows of people - some with children next to them - sitting on benches, spilling over into the hallways; sitting or standing in any space available. There was a low hum of noise throughout the building as people waited patiently for their turn, barely whispering to each other. Just too many sad, sad faces.