History of the Usizo Lwethu Clinic

The clinic was established in 2006 as a community and parish-based response to the healthcare needs of the poor in the area. It began as an initiative of the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban AIDS Commission.

Initially we offered voluntary counselling and testing services, uniquely offering counselling in widely spoken East and Central African languages. It soon became clear that a great need existed for accessible primary health care for marginalised groups.

The outbreak of xenophobic violence in Durban in April 2015 created a sense of insecurity amongst refugee communities. Refugees and homeless people still often report negative attitudes from state health facilities; refugees also experience language difficulties. Currently, refugees constitute almost half of the people using the services offered.

The DHC Usizo Lwethu clinic is now a fully-fledged Primary Health Care Clinic and part of the Denis Hurley Centre.

For more information about various aspects of the clinic, click on the following links: