Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - September 30, 2006
This is the first package to be developed which empowers people living with HIV, their family members and care givers to provide care and support with minimal external support. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already endorsed the package, making it an international standard that enhances the capacity of care facilitators and community-based volunteers to support and care for clients on anti-retroviral therapy.
"This package is unique from many others as it is client-centered and community-based with linkages to clinical, nursing and health services and it provide a link between community programmes and organisations involved in the work of HIV and AIDS," says Dr Evelyn Isaacs, of the World Health Organisation (AFRO). "It also falls in line with the principles of Universal Access to treatment as defined in the Millennium Development Goals which will eventually lead to improved in treatment care and support in all countries across the world."
The tool comes against a tide of unabating spread of the HIV epidemic, especially within southern Africa which has become the epicenter of the pandemic though they have been concerted efforts coordination and collaboration by many players to improve on access to treatment and other prevention activities. This, however, called for a change in approach to care, treatment and support for people community health workers and people living with HIV which package seeks to address.
"The availability of anti-retroviral therapy is beginning to change the shape of home-based care programmes across the continent, especially in southern Africa from helping people to die with dignity to positive living," explains Fran oise Le Goff, the International Federation's head of regional delegation in southern Africa. "The launch of the training package comes at the right time as it will empower people living with HIV, care givers and family members who provide care and support and improve backup for their humanitarian work. As a community based organization, we are convinced that this will go a long way in making life easier for our community health workers who need support; we care for the carers."
Having gone that far in laying the ground, indeed Africa deserves more than just promises, if efforts to stall and reverse to effects of the pandemic are to pay off.
"The issue knowledge gap will now be addressed through this package which does not simply focus on treatment as a means of controlling the epidemic, but instead integrates treatment into prevention, care and support to provide a comprehensive package of HIV and AIDS interventions," says Lois Ngandu, the SAFAIDS executive director. Community health workers will now have the knowledge and skills to complement treatment roll out programmes in the communities they serve," she added noting that the enhancement of skills at community level will reduce pressure on the already stretched health resources in many resource-limited settings.
The package, which was pre-tested in Zimbabwe and other African countries, is made up of eight modules focus on basic facts on HIV and AIDS, treatment literacy, treatment Preparedness, adherence, community-based counseling, nutrition, palliative Care: symptom management and end of life care and caring for carers. It will be translated into many different languages including Portuguese, French and Spanish in order to extend its reach and sixteen other African languages.
The launch draws participants from all over Africa, including representatives of International Federation of Red Cross societies, WHO regional offices, the African Union, relevant government ministries as well as regional UN agencies, networks of people living with HIV, community care facilitators, advocacy networks, NGOs and donors. Participants will have an opportunity to create awareness among these diverse stakeholders on the important role community-based volunteers play in treatment rollout programmes.
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