Grassroots Non-Governmental Organizations and the Fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa

The Case of Alice Township

Abstract

To win the battle against HIV/AIDS in South Africa the participation of multiple stakeholders such as the government, NGOs, medical practitioners, researchers, patients, and significant others is of paramount importance. This paper aimed at discussing pertinent efforts and limitations of grassroots health-based NGOs in the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa. A qualitative approach was adopted, and interviews were used to collect the data. The study established that: grassroots NGOs pressurized the government to respond to HIV/AIDS menace; the International NGOs were perceived to be more impactful in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and volunteers were the ‘human resource engine’ for grassroots health-based NGOs in the study area. Conclusively, grassroots health-based NGOs, albeit size, are unequivocally gap fillers and supplements of the governments’ efforts in various operations to achieve a HIV/AIDS-free society.