Reuter is currently working in rural Eastern Cape where he is project co-ordinator of the HIV programme in Lusikisiki. He is also the only medical doctor on call for all primary health care clinics in the area.  

Before moving to Lusikisiki Reuter treated hundreds of patients as part of MSF’€™s flagship ARV programme in Khayelitsha where he was renamed ‘€œThemba’€ by his patients.

‘€œHis real name is Herman, but I call him Themba ‘€“ that means he gives me hope,’€ said Bulelwa, whose life story featured in the coffee table book ‘€“ Long life’€¦

The announcement was made at the annual Rural Doctor’€™s of South Africa (Rudasa) conference in Thohoyandou last week.

The Treatment Action Campaign nominated Reuter and motivation for his nomination was received from patients and nursing staff of the Lusikisiki Wellness Clinic.

Rudasa praised Reuter for the tireless effort he has put into the running of the wellness clinic and for providing ARVs to one of the remotest areas in the country.

‘€œThis is against all odds, including poverty, poor infrastructure and lack of adequate staffing,’€ Rudasa said in a statement.

Reuter has also been involved in educating the community and staff around critical issues pertaining to the care of those infected with HIV.

He is responsible for developing and implementing HIV treatment and prevention programmes, community awareness, Voluntary Counseling and Testing, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission programmes and training of nurses.

Reuter has run workshops for the community on HIV medication, government institutions and parliament, mass mobilization, giving political leadership and administrative management.

He was unable to attend the conference and receive the award due to severe staff shortage at his workplace.

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