They have Clifton Beach, Table Mountain, the wine estates, a buzzing gay scene and now Cape Town ‘s gay community is privileged yet again: South Africa’s first dedicated gay men’s sexual health service is up and running in the Mother City.
What makes Health4Men so different to other projects working with gay men, such as OUT (in Pretoria) and Triangle Project (in Cape Town)? “We literally offer a one-stop sexual health service specifically designed for gay men”, explains Dr Kevin Rebe, a medical specialist who leads the Health4Men team. “Besides HIV testing, we offer free HIV management and blood tests, and we supply free ARV treatment through our partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health.” The menu of free services includes STI diagnosis and treatment, CD4 and viral load testing, prostate health monitoring, vaccinations against hepatitis and ARV treatment.
Glenn de Swardt manages Health4Men’s psychosocial component. “Our mandate includes prevention strategies and we’re working with guys who are HIV negative as well as HIV positive guys. We’re intent on getting gay men to engage with issues relating to enjoying responsible sex.“ Health4Men has already conducted two successful seminars: during September their first seminar addressed barebacking and they conducted an “Ass Class” during October. “As gay men we seldom discuss our anuses”, says Glenn. “Even gay men are affected by the social taboo that surrounds the anus”. Kevin and Glenn are a complementary and formidable team; during the “Ass Class”, for example, Kevin focused on anal physiology and health while Glenn addressed psychological factors and focused on how we relate to our own anuses.
“We’re also offering free professional individual and couple counseling as well as support groups. We’re busy setting up a group for guys who are HIV positive and soon we’ll have a group for negative guys who’s partners are positive, “ says Glenn, who quit Triangle Project earlier this year and is also the current Chairperson of Cape Town Pride. “A group for guys with sexual addictions is also being explored. Our November seminar will take the form of a demonstration and workshop on bondage and control. Responsible sex messaging isn’t only about using condoms and we’re trying to make our messaging as interesting as possible. We need to make responsible messaging sexy”.
Health4Men’s office is located in Cobern Street in the heart of Cape Town’s gay village precinct. Quite literally, they’re located between the newly opened Amsterdam Action Bar and Bar Code, the local leather bar. “Our location in the gay heart of the city is ideal but we’re intent on making our expertise and services available to men living in the townships, the Cape Flats and even rural areas… our target extends far beyond guys living in the city bowl”, explains Glenn.
Health4Men have acquired a wing of the Woodstock Day Hospital and will launch their new clinic in Woodstock, specifically addressing gay men’s sexual health needs, during December. “The new clinic in Woodstock is currently being fully refurbished and it will be the first specialised clinic to offer free services to gay men that address all aspects of their sexual health,” says Helen Struthers, project manager of PEPFAR, Health4Men’s sponsor.
Call Health4Men on 021 425 6463 for more info or to make an appointment.