Actress Judd jets in to open New Start VCT centre in Cape Town

American actress and Youth AIDS global ambassador Ashley Judd was in Cape Town on Monday to open an HIV testing centre in Strand Street.

The voluntary HIV counselling and testing centre, New Start, opened its doors to the public on December 2, but was opened officially on Monday by Judd, the Western Cape MEC for Health Pierre Uys and the United States ambassador to South Africa, Jendayi Frazer.

The centre, on the 12th floor of the Picbel Arcade, aims to provide inexpensive and anonymous testing by professional counsellors. Clients receive their test results immediately.

"I think the centre is pretty fabulous," Judd said. "What they've done is identify what frightens people about being tested. The centre gives clients absolutely guaranteed privacy".

"What also impressed me is that the service starts when you walk in, but it doesn't stop when you walk out. Emotional counselling continues. The counsellors are experts at couples counselling, for example."

Scott Billy, New Start technical adviser in South Africa, said on Monday the initiative was supported by the South African government and US leader George Bush's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Funding for the centre and similar centres in Johannesburg and Durban is provided by the US Centres for Disease Control.

Judd said she had become involved in HIV/AIDS awareness two years ago through friends Bono, the lead singer of U2, and Kate Roberts, the global director of New Start.

"I'm not doing any acting at the moment. I just want to do this for a while... anything to raise consciousness and awareness."

Judd is on the third leg of a Youth AIDS and Population Services International campaign that has included visits to Kenya and Madagascar.