In this edition:

Giving back to the givers: volunteer caregivers from Mtunzini graduate in home-based care training

For the 72 volunteer home-based carers of Entabeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal, March 23rd this year was not an ordinary day, and for once they did not visit households to care for sick people. It was a very special day when a dream came true, and they celebrated their graduation as fully trained and accredited home-based caregivers.

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In Their Shoes: ARVs for children ? community-focused delivery and support

Late in 2003, a large group of concerned NGOs set out recommendations to Parliament for the rights and challenges relating to HIV treatment for different age groups of children and youth: babies (under 3 years), young children (3-6), primary-school children (7-11), young teenagers (12-14) and older adolescents (15-18). They drew attention to each group?s needs for special support with adherence to anti-retroviral (ARV) drug courses and emotional health, through regular clinic visits, innovative guidance methods, support groups and in-depth counselling.

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Campaign News and Resources

A circle of giving: Community Outreach volunteers attached to HIVAN?s Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal?s Howard College campus held a fundraising event over two days in May 2005. Over R1 500 was collected from the sale of raffle tickets for patients and families at McCord Hospital?s Sinikithemba Care Centre, and more than 15 bags of clothing were donated to the Hillcrest AIDS Trust Centre for their income-generation scheme. The lucky draw held on 11 and 12 May offered prizes that included meal vouchers for the Wimpy and Spur Restaurants? Davenport outlets, SunCoast Nu-Metro movie tickets, CDs from Musica, wine from Queensmead Spar and a toaster from Knowles Spar, East Coast Radio T-shirts, a sports-bag from Standard Bank and books from HIVAN.

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Unity and Accountability? Let?s keep our promises

Key speakers at the Second SA AIDS Conference, held over four days in Durban during June this year, urged researchers, government, the media, business and social groups to push harder for close co-operation and openness in our struggle against HIV and AIDS. Dr Mamphele Ramphele - formerly World Bank Director of Social Development and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town ? said that ?HIV/AIDS is the mirror in South Africa?s face?, making us, as a nation, examine how inequality and discrimination continue to shape an uncaring response to the suffering of our fellow-citizens.

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Closer to treatment in Okhahlamba : caregivers and health-workers join hands

Before the government issue of anti-retroviral drugs was launched at Emmaus Hospital in the Okhahlamba district of KwaZulu-Natal, volunteer home-based carers played a vital role in helping their patients to acquire this treatment. In September 2004, HIVAN?s HBC Intervention Programme Co-ordinator, Phumzile Ndlovu, arranged for 10 caregivers, who service most wards in Okhahlamba, to attend an important week-long cross-site visit to The Church of Scotland Hospital (COSH) in the nearby Msinga district, where an ARV treatment programme was well-established.

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Blessings from Tibet: Gifts for HIV/AIDS Care Centres

When His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama - the earthly and spiritual leader of Tibet - visited South Africa in November 2004, the Tibet Society of South Africa co-ordinated a two-day event in Durban during which the Dalai Lama (which means ?Ocean of Wisdom?) gave teachings on aspects of the Buddhist philosophy.? As is the practice of the Tibet Society Committee in hosting such events, the balance of funds raised through the visit after all expenses had been paid, was offered to the Dalai Lama for support of Tibetan humanitarian projects, particularly those centred on the Tibetan refugee community.

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Caring Families, Faithful Friendships, Loving Communities

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan?s message for the International Day of Families, May 2005: ?A strong and supportive family is one of the first lines of defence against HIV/AIDS. Let us re-dedicate ourselves to helping this precious unit play its full part in that mission.?

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Heroes of tenderness

As a nation, and as a member of the human family, our world is defined by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which isolates people in many different ways. In November 2005, the UNAIDS and World Health Organisations issued their joint annual report presenting updated global figures of infection and deaths from AIDS, and the picture is a grim one, especially for South Africa, which has the highest transmission rate in the world, and over six million citizens infected.

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Action Alert!

For information about Joint Public Services provided for children needing social assistance in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, dial: 0800 601 011

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Gallery

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