A large group of people gathered at the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital on Friday to witness the opening of the newly erected ARV Wellness Clinic.

According to the chief executive officer of Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital, Mr Godfrey Tshimauswu, the ARV Clinic was established by the National Department of Health as a health facility to provide ARV treatments.

He added that the hospital patients used to travel to Tshilidzini and Siloam hospitals to access ARV treatment, which was a very tiring situation for the patients. "We are happy that the community within which the hospital serves will now be assisted inside the hospital, as the clinic is fully functional," said Tshimauswu.

Tshimauswu indicated that the establishment of the clinic contributed towards the empowerment of the community, as the health facility has created job opportunities to 19 people. "We have employed two medical doctors, counselors, social workers and administrators," he said. He also urged the community to make use of the clinic.

The ARV clinic is named the Takalaninarine Clinic, which simply means, be happy with us.

Cllr Albert Matodzi of Makhado said the municipality fully supported the project and that people had to use the clinic. Matodzi urged the community to be tested and also indicated that people had to follow the treatment.

Apart of the unveiling of the clinic, the hospital also awarded its staff members for their long service at the hospital.