Westbury Aids Support Group

About the Westbury AIDS Support Group

The Westbury AIDS Support Group is a registered NPO operating from the Dorcas Recreation Centre at 4861 Robert Avenue, Westbury, Johannesburg. Westbury is a working-class Coloured community in the western suburbs of Johannesburg, characterised by chronic poverty, unemployment, gang activity, substance abuse, and historically poor government service delivery. HIV/AIDS prevalence, domestic violence, and sexual violence are significant community health challenges, and community-based organisations like the Westbury AIDS Support Group fill gaps left by overstretched public services.

Relevance to GBV Directory

HIV/AIDS support organisations are included in GBV directories for several important reasons:

• Sexual violence is a primary HIV transmission risk: rape and sexual assault survivors require immediate access to PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis), HIV testing, and ongoing health monitoring. Community organisations familiar with HIV services are often the first non-police point of contact for survivors.
• Intersecting vulnerabilities: women and girls with HIV are at elevated risk of GBV, and women who experience GBV are at elevated risk of HIV infection. This intersection is particularly acute in communities like Westbury where both challenges are endemic.
• Community trust: AIDS support groups operating in specific townships often have a level of community trust that formal services do not, and can serve as a bridge between survivors and specialist GBV services.

Services

While specific service details could not be confirmed from publicly available sources, AIDS support groups of this type typically provide: HIV counselling and testing, home-based care for HIV-positive individuals and families, psychosocial support, social grant assistance, nutritional support, referrals to social services and GBV organisations, and community education on prevention and rights.