The only anti-retroviral treatment programme offered in the South African public health sector is available in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. In this second feature on the pilot programme being run by Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Western Cape provincial government, we focus on the all-important role of the patients' support group. It is in the support groups that patients have the chance to talk about possible side effects and other issues related to consistent adherence to the drug regimen.