Equally as important as prevention initiatives, are those that mitigate the wrath of HIV and AIDS. Mitigation initiatives take the form of implementing structures that target people living with HIV and AIDS. The Ehlanzeni District Municipality indicated that “Care issues have become a priority for the infected, affected with palliative care and Home Based Care and access to treatment”.
Bearing this in mind, Humana carries out Care and Support initiatives in both HOPE Humana Bushbuckridge and HOPE Humana Mopani through the Home Based Care Programme. A total of 60 Caregivers have been trained to offer home based care through this programme. The training on Home Based Care included building skills care and support, treatment knowledge on HIV & AIDS, skills on counselling, confidentiality, as well as the question of stigma and discrimination.
In the Home Based Care programme, the Caregiver goes from door-to-door to the homes of people who are HIV positive and ill. Caregivers provide corporeal support to patients. This is a task that can be demanding, but the passion for helping people propels Caregivers to tackle it head-on. They help to wash and ensure that patients are clean. Caregivers also ensure that patients have food and help to feed them. In many instances, patients have no family to take care of them and rely solely on the support of HOPE’s Caregivers.
In cases where families are looking after patients, Caregivers train family members to take care of the patients. Families taking care of patients often take strain and to them the assistance of Caregivers helps to lift the load.
The Caregivers also liaise with TRIOs or the patient’s alternative support system to ensure that they are adhering to their treatment. In dire situations, Caregivers refer patients to hospitals for clinical care. They work in partnership with clinics and hospitals, helping to reaching patients that clinics are unable to reach.
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