Home Based Care - Woza Moya

Home Based Care

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Home Based Care is at the heart of Woza Moya´s activities. Through a team of well-trained Community Care Workers (CCWs), the most vulnerable families are identified. The first step is to identify a primary care giver in the home, who the CCW works closely with, transferring skills and information and providing on going support and advice. The CCWs receive training in Primary Health Care, Palliative Care, First Aid, HIV and AIDS including TB and ARV treatment, General Counseling and VCT and basic home care nursing. Monthly PLWAs support groups are facilitated throughout Ofafa.

Dec

2011

World AIDS Day 2011

We were honoured to co-host World AIDS Day with our special friends from Sisonke District Health, in Nkululeko Hall, in the remote Emahlathini area. The day began with the traditional candle lighting ceremony.

Oct

2011

IMCI Training

Our highly valued partnership with the SISONKE HEALTH DISTRICT, around IMCI (integrated management of childhood illnesses), saw excellent quality trainings being done, by the DoH team. Topics covered in the past few months are PMTCT, breastfeeding and weighing, immunisation, traditional birth attendants, health promoting homes and RTHB training. This continues to be a rich and rewarding relationship, having direct and positive impact on the health and welfare of the Ofafa Valley Community and their children.

Sep

2011

Voices of the Woza Moya Community Care Workers

In Sept 2011 the Woza Moya Community Care Workers (CCWs) came together to discuss the future of Home-Based Care (HBC) in KwaZulu-Natal (and South Africa) . The Department of Health (DoH), especially in KZN, is forging ahead with the restructuring of HBC with no or very little consultation with civil society and in particular with Home Based Carers themselves. Many contentious areas were discussed such as who would employ and pay HBCs in future; how would they be recruited, trained, supervised; whether this type of work is indeed suitable for YOUTH between the ages of 18-35, as the Sakume Sakhe programme (creating jobs for youth in HBC) is promulgating.

The CCWs discussed how the clients or patients themselves would feel about these changes and in particular about having young people caring for them. Let us also give a voice to the patients and hear what they have to say! The CCWs also discussed how HBC work was suitable for more mature people with a feeling of compassion, care and service in their hearts; this was far more important than any educational qualification or work experience, they concluded.

Dec

2010

World AIDS Day 2010

Two excellent speakers from NAPWA and Durban Gay & Lesbian Community made WAD 2010 a memorable occasion.

Sep

2010

HPCA Annual Conference

Jane and Sue attend the national annual HPCA (Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa) conference at Sibaya.

Apr

2010

Children Living with AIDS

The first support group for children living with AIDS (CLWA) is held.

Mar

2010

Creighton Clinic

Children with disabilities greatly benefit from this specialist monthly clinic.

Feb

2010

Kokstad exchange visit

HBC staff at Woza Moya visit a HPCA partner in Kokstad, Tender Loving Care (TLC).

Nov

2009

HPCA partnership begins

Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa(HPCA) meeting in Durban attended by Sandy, Sue, Jane and Benedicta.

Nov

2009

Sandy Dickson

Professional Nurse Sandy Dickson starts part time, as required by the HPCA (Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa) grant. Sandy very kindly succumbs to Sue's persuasive powers and comes out of early retirement to help Woza Moya. Sandy spends about 2 days every month on site at Woza Moya, receiving monthly reports from the CCWs, advising and guiding them in their home-based care work.