Ithembalabantu (Zulu for ‘peoples hope’) is a state-of-the-art clinic location in Umlazi, Durban and is managed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - the largest AIDS group in the US which currently provides medical care and services to more than 98,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide. The clinic was established in 2001 with the aim of showing that provision of comprehensive treatment and care, including ART, in resource-constrained settings is feasible and effective to people with advanced stage of HIV infection. Currently over 7,000 adult and paediatric patients receive medical care at Ithembalabantu, many of whom also receive free lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment via the facility. Our study site provides the services of an experienced research nurse and a counsellor.