Diocessan HIV/AIDS
Program
Home-based Care - Eastern Highveld
Region - Mpumalaga
Because of the poverty and lack of
resources in this region and because the Department
of Health in Mpumalanga had no home-based
care programme in place, the Diocese, focussing
mainly on the Albert Luthuli municipality
in Gert Sibande District, provided home-based
care training for caregivers of various church
denominations and faiths in a number of communities
in the area. This was possible through funding
received from the Department of Health from
1999 - 2002. Because of problems experienced
within the Mpumalanga Department of Health,
the Diocese did not receive funding for 2003
and 2004. Together with a small amount of
funding in its training fund and DFID funding
through Christian Aid, the Diocese was able
to continue with home-based care and counselling
training in the Albert Luthuli municipality
of the Eastern Highveld region of Mpumalanga.
The home-based care training in this region
has resulted in the establishment of 30 community-based
home-based care projects (over 1 300 caregivers
have been trained), each with its own co-ordinator
and management committee.
Fr Peter Mbatha, the Anglican priest in Mayflower
was appointed as a part-time Social Responsibility
Co-ordinator in the Igwa Archdeaconry (Mpumalanga
area) as from 1 October 2005.
Comic Relief funding covers the transport
and telephone costs of a local person in the
Albert Luthuli Municipality who assists the
Diocesan Co-ordinators with the mentoring
and monitoring of the above-mentioned projects.
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