Diocessan HIV/AIDS Program

Home-based Care - East Rand - Gauteng

The Department of Health, Gauteng, was proactive and began implementing its programme of home-based care in 2000. This involved the training of carers in communities on the East Rand. Projects approved by the Department of Health were funded by them. These funds did not cover all project expenses and needs. Several community-based projects approached the Diocese for assistance.

Currently the projects are:
Siyaphila Home-based Care, Rondebult.
 
Bambanani Home-based Care, Dukathole.   Kwaze Kwasa Home-based Care, Katlehong South.

Home-based Care projects initiated by Anglicans in the Diocese, comprising Anglicans and members of other church denominations and faiths and involved in the care of members of the community are:
Tshepo-Hope Care and Counselling Centre, Tsakane
Zakheni Home-based Care, Tembisa West

A training course in home-based care was conducted for caregivers living in the community of Tsakane (1999). Some members of the Anglican Women's Fellowship were trained in home-based care in 2001 as well as a group of caregivers from the Uniting Reform Church - also in 2001. Volunteers from parishes in the Katlehong and Vosloorus Archdeaconries were trained in Katlehong in 2002. Volunteers were discouraged from forming their own home-based care projects and competing with existing projects in their communities. They were encouraged to visit the projects and offer their support. Some volunteers were absorbed into existing projects. In 2003, support group members attached to Ikhono Home-based care in Ratanda, outside Heidelberg, were trained in home-based care.

A home-based care course was conducted from 8 – 12 May 2006 for 41 caregivers who work in home-based care projects on the East Rand and who had received no training in home care from the Department of Health, Gauteng. In all, approximately 171 caregivers have been trained through the Diocese on the East Rand.

   

Parishes are linked to the various projects and this ensures a steady stream of clothes, blankets and bedding, aqueous cream, vaseline, household detergents, food, toys etc. into the projects.

Through funding received from Comic Relief, several caregivers attached to the Tshepo-Hope Care and Counselling Centre, Kwaze Kwasa Home-based Care and Siyaphila Home-based Care are currently benefiting from volunteer incentives.

The Hardship Fund was established to provide assistance to people in dire need. It enables projects to supply E-pap and other nutritional foods to adults and children either for nothing or at a very nominal cost. E-pap (an immune-boosting porridge) is taken not only by the very poor to enable them to take their TB and other medication with the added advantage of strengthening them and enhancing their quality of life, it is also taken by a number of caregivers who are themselves HIV positive. The Fund assists very poor people to bury their loved ones. It also assists with patient transport to hospitals and clinics, food parcels when required etc.

The Children's Education Fund helps orphans and vulnerable children to be transported to schools. It pays for school uniforms when needed, school stationery, books and school educational trips etc.