In 2007 the programme focused on four locations: Pietermaritzburg, Zululand, South Coast and Umzimkulu. It will expand to Durban, Newcastle and Howick by 2010. Community-based volunteers, facilitators and peer educators will work in each district to provide care and support to people living with HIV. They will also support communities to prevent further infections and reduce stigma and discrimination. By 2011, 582,000 people will have been reached.
Through Red Cross services, we aim to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV and their families – with demonstrable impact on health, personal hygiene, mobility, food availability, well-being and other aspects of life.
Awareness campaigns
Teams of specialist facilitators and volunteers will deliver structured health education workshops on HIV and AIDS, TB, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence issues, and other related health issues in community settings and clients’ homes.
Youth peer education
Two hundred peer educators (aged 18-25) will be recruited and trained to promote life skills and positive living to other young people in their communities and schools, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and AIDS.
Condom distribution
There will be an increased distribution of condoms – including female condoms – and training on their use.
Care and support for people living with HIV
Each site will have 40 volunteer caregivers who will visit 600 chronically ill clients (i.e. home-bound or bed-ridden clients) each week. They will provide a wide range of assistance, including bringing food parcels, providing basic nursing care, giving advice on access to ART, nutrition and establishing food gardens, and referring clients to auxiliary social workers for psychosocial counselling. During these visits families and primary caregivers will be empowered to manage the work themselves so each volunteer caregiver will be able to visit three or four clients a day.
Support to caregivers
There will be increased training for primary caregivers, focusing on the provision of effective care and support for family members with HIV and AIDS. A “Care for the Caregiver” service will be established in each project site.
Support groups
Support groups will be established for people living with HIV and caregivers as an important way of receiving psychosocial support from other community members, as well as for knowledge sharing and encouraging the creation of community food gardens.
Income generation
New initiatives will be started in communities to provide jobs and income for people living with HIV.
Work with orphans and vulnerable children
Orphans and other vulnerable children will receive a wide range of practical assistance, including food, home visits, education support (e.g. uniforms and school materials) and support groups.
Water and sanitation initiatives (WATSAN)
Facilitators and volunteers will provide advice on important environmental health practices, including hygiene and sanitation, for HIV-affected households, orphans and vulnerable children.
Support access to testing and treatment
We will increase promotion of and support in accessing anti-retroviral treatment and HIV testing, as well as promoting mother-to-child transmission prevention programmes.
Anti-stigma and discrimination
We will significantly increase advocacy and championing the rights of people living with HIV, orphans and other vulnerable children, helping them to access the support they need.
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