Dr Gail Ashford
MBBCH (WITS), DMH (SA), DIP HIV MAN (SA), FCFP (SA)
HIV Support is the brainchild of Dr Gail Ashford and first went live in August 2009. Her goal is to grow a website that will become an information portal for South Africans (and Southern Africans) to access relevant local HIV related news, updates, research and treatment options. HIV has such a differet profile and portfolio here in Africa, compared to Europe and the US and it is high time that we were able to turn to a local website for quality information. Above all, this website maintains the focus on the individual person living with HIV or affected by HIV.
Wits donald gordon medical centre Dr Gail has a private practice in Parktown at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg, a centre of excellence with specialist doctors who are affiliated to Wits University Medical School. She sees all kinds of patients, young and old, HIV negative and HIV positive. Her special interests are in the fields of HIV medicine, tuberculosis and pregnancy. Her interest in HIV medicine developed in the pre-ARV days when HIV was a terminal disease. Her beliefs that good clinical care, the benefit of time, and the therapeutic effect of the doctor were all formed in this era where 'treatment' was not available. The availability of ARVs in 2004 cemented her passion for helping people living with HIV and the field moved from palliation to chronic care. Her experience in this chronic illness carries its benefits across to other chronic illnesses like arthritis, asthma, high cholesterol and high blood pressure and depression. Her vision is to grow a South African information portal on all matters relevant to living with HIV and chronic illness, and to spread optimism and hope to people living with this illness. Dr Gail has spoken to various audiences including the medical community, community organisations and press and shared her experience and viewpoints on this fascinating chronic infection. She has recently been joined in practice by Dr Fatima Laher, a similarly passionate HIV doctor with a wealth of research experience in her background. Medupi Phala is project manager and assistant who acts on Gail's vision, mans the reception, phones and bookings and welcomes patients to the rooms. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto Since the inception of the obstetric ARV clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2005, Dr Gail Ashford, a specialist Family Physician with an interest in HIV, has helped over 1500 HIV-positive mothers through the process of treatment in pregnancy. Together with Dr Jenny Hull (the makhulu of the clinic) who is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with over 30 years of dedicated service to the people of Soweto, their synergistic expertise provides quality, expert and empathic care to positive pregnant women. The clinic is open on Wednesdays and has dedicated staff who witness the life-changing power and benefit of ARV drugs which protect the baby from HIV, help the mother get well (a healthy mother can grow a healthy baby), improve the mum’s likelihood of remaining well enough to raise her child and preserve the child and mother’s future together. The clinic achieves low HIV transmission rates of <4%. At the clinic, complicated cases are helped – this includes women who are battling not only HIV, but may also have TB or cancer, may be carrying twins or have conditions like high blood pressure or epilepsy. Care for these pregnant women needs expert, specialised care that goes beyond ordinary ARV treatment and antenatal care. Women requiring routine antenatal care can be followed up at their local clinic and receive ARVs there too. Sister Mabel and Matron Susan have worked with the doctors since the beginning of the clinic, and have made the clinic a warm, efficient and confidential environment for the mums and their babies. |    More about Dr Gail AshfordGail qualified at Wits University in 2000. She was an active participant in the Medical Students Council and advocated for her peers on a national platform while leading the Committee on Medical Policy And Training.
She has worked in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Gauteng since then. She, her husband, a paediatrician, and 2 daughters have settled in Johannesburg since completing her specialty degree. Gail completed her Fellowship of the College of Family Medicine in 2008. Her decision to specialise in Family Medicine was driven by her desire to work with families with HIV. Family Medicine is the only medical specialty that allows a doctor to manage the whole family across all age groups and while pregnant. She has spoken at a number of public events/conferences, and has a reputation as a lively and sometimes controversial speaker. Her fields of interest include: Treating HIV positive women and Tuberculosis/HIV coinfection.  |
