Altrisk donates to CARe’s patient HIV/Aids support programme

Altrisk has donated R86 800 to Community AIDS Response (CARe), a non-profit organisation that started as a concerned community of volunteers responding to the needs of people living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS.

CARe provides holistic care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS, their families and the people who offer this care through a dedicated team of professional and lay caregivers, volunteers, funders and supporters. ,

“Altrisk’s support of our programme is heartily welcomed at a time when funding from donors has taken a knock due to the economic downturn. Such funding from the business community helps tremendously in improving the skills of our counsellors and field workers who we would like to train in social auxiliary work.Most of the counsellors and field workers are youths who come from disadvantaged communities. Being able to offer such training supports a dual purpose of job creation as the new skills will assist them to stay in the job market and allow them to put food on the table,” explains Keith Muloongo, Executive Director of CARe.

“In addition, the monies will go towards supporting HIV patients through the provision of home-based kits used in the provision of palliative care and training family members of HIV patients to be care givers.This is bringing sustainability of such care by placing it in the hands of those directly affected in support of their family members and those in their immediate community,” explains Keith.

Altrisk’s support of CARe is an indicator of the insurer’s market-leading approach to providing cover for people living with HIV. “Firstly, there is much more to HIV than simply treating a disease. CARe’s philosophy of creating a sustainable programme to support HIV patients by working directly with family members and communities is visionary, especially in terms of the psycho-social support provided. Furthermore, it is a disease that, with the right care and treatment, can be managed for a long and fulfilling life,” explains Craig Harding, Managing Director of Altrisk.

Altrisk was the first life insurer to offer cover to people living with HIV and other severe medical impairments who traditionally would not be able to get cover in the marketplace

Each year Altrisk supports a non-profit organisation that works towards making a health-related improvement in the lives of South Africans by driving positive behavioural change. “Part of our fundraising drive is to encourage our financial advisors to be part of the initiative. We pledge R50 to a worthy cause for every application received from financial advisors during the campaign period. Previous organisations supported include Cansa and the Heart & Stroke Foundation,” concludes Craig.