Dr Hermann Reuter - Coordinator MSF HIV Program in Lusikisiki, South Africa

June 1, 2005 by Postgraduate Editor

Name, Age: Hermann Themba Reuter, 37 years

Current Position(s): Coordinator MSF (Doctors without Borders) HIV Program in Lusikisiki – rural health district – South Africa; 2003 to present.
Managing comprehensive HIV program including awareness, prevention and treatment including 750 people on antiretrovirals at primary health care level, responsible to supervise 40 NGO staff, close collaboration with 40 department of health nurses and health care managers, training all categories of health care workers, doing clinic consultations three days a week

Provincial Executive Member of Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)
Giving political leadership to South Africa's most vibrant HIV patients' rights groups, planning community mobilisation

Past Positions: Medical doctor MSF (Doctors without Borders) HIV program in Khayelitsha – urban poor township - South Africa; 2000 – 2002
Volunteer of Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)

Education: University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, Medical Degree, 1986 – 1991
Rhodes University, South Africa, Teachers Diploma, 1997

Which of the above two have been most useful/necessary attain your current position, and why?

Most medical experience was acquired through self study working in rural hospitals and clinics with no supervision
Most political and leadership skills acquired through participation in Treatment Action Campaign and other political organisations and trade unions
Theory in adult education acquired during teacher diploma and skills in practice of HIV workshops

What strengths, skills and experience are useful in your role (insert current position)?
Coordinator of HIV project in rural district: good medical sense, understanding of health care system, close links with community organisation, being close to people

What are the rewards and challenges about being in your current position?
Rewards: Antiretrovirals are most rewarding treatment to be able to prescribe if one has strong community involvement in the clinic. Its inspiring to be part of an international organisation that is spearheading the use of these medicines across Africa.
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has changed the perception of health care in South Africa from where patients were silent receivers of medicines to where service users are active participants in structuring of health care services. I'm proud to be associated with this movement.

Challenges: To overcome drug company overpricing of essential medicines.
To overcome denialism amongst government leaders.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to your current position?
HIV care is rewarding. Doctors are needed in rural areas and in primary health care management.

Ambitions for the future?
Write some books, start an environmental project with HIV support groups, train more health care workers in HIV care.

Tell us your favourite anecdote:
MSF in most countries have experienced that it is easier giving antiretrovirals to children as tablets easier than as syrup. I do the same. But first I let the children swallow an empty efavirenz capsule to ensure they can do it. When Thandi, a six year old was challenged to do this she broke out in tears and couldn't swallow. I calmed down the grandmother and gave them some multivitamin tablets and asked the grandmother to practice with Thandi to overcome the fear of swallowing tablets.
When they came to the clinic the next week, Thandi was proud to demonstrate that now she could swallow the efavirenz capsule, and immediately asked, "Doctor now I also need the 3TC and D4T". I was surprised, this little girl new the names of her triple therapy combination and understood everything exactly. This was in stark contrast to many incidents were adults had been taking their hypertension medication for years and still did not know the names of their medication. The counsellor just said looking at me, "You said we must prepare the children for ARVs just like the adults."

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