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HIV/AIDS work in the Highveld

The following is the latest REPORT (March 2005) OF HIV/AIDS WORK IN THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF THE HIGHVELD.

Introduction

The Diocese of the Highveld covers the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (formerly East Rand region) of Gauteng Province (a densely populated urban area) and the Eastern Highveld region of Mpumalanga Province (a rural area) extending from Tembisa, Edenvale and Germiston on its western border to the Swaziland border in the East - a distance of about 400 kilometres. The Diocese also extends to the KwaZulu Natal border in the south-east. Within the geographical boundaries of the Diocese live an estimated three and a half million people. HIV/AIDS, unemployment - in some of the rural communities of the Diocese more than 80% of the people are unemployed - poverty, education and health care are major issues. It is estimated that in some of the rural areas, the percentage of those living with HIV/AIDS is as high as 56%.

Background to the Diocesan HIV/AIDS Response

Bishop David Beetge established the Diocesan AIDS Co-ordinating Committee (DACC) in 1993. Since its inception, this committee has been responsible for:

raising awareness and educating people in parishes in the Diocese, other church denominations and communities on HIV/AIDS and related issues;
setting up structures of care and support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Highveld Anglican Board of Social Responsibility (HABSR) was established in 2003.

Purpose of the Board:

To provide assistance in terms of social responsibility and pastoral care to people in need within the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of the Highveld irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation.

Functions of the Board:

To assess the social and pastoral needs of the communities within the geographical boundaries of the Diocese and to create the means whereby these needs may be alleviated through:
Skills training  Capacity building  Financial assistance  Pastoral care  Utilising the structures and resources available at parochial, archdeaconry, diocesan and community levels
To co-ordinate facilities within the Diocese at its different levels (e.g. parish, archdeaconry and diocesan) with those available within the communities. The aim of the Board is not to duplicate facilities already being offered but to create opportunities for co-operation.
While the Board is part of the Anglican Diocese of the Highveld, it will seek to co-operate with community projects as well as projects established by other denominations and faiths.
The Board will seek to network with local, provincial, and government structures in its work and to co-operate and assist these structures where possible.
All projects involving the Diocese financially or in terms of a monitoring role need to be assessed and approved by the Board.
All funding proposals in support of the agreed projects will need the approval of either the Board or of the executive. In the case of the executive giving approval such approval must be ratified at the next Board meeting.
The Board will monitor and evaluate all projects that have been approved by the Board and all expenditure on such projects.
The Board may seek financial assistance in order to carry out its duties and to support the work and programmes it approves.

Composition:

The Board consists of the Bishop and 12 members.

Accountability:

The Board will be accountable to the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the Highveld.

Administration:

The administration will be carried out by the Administrator of the Diocese of the Highveld and the audit by the auditors of the Diocese of the Highveld.

HIV/AIDS WORK OF THE DIOCESE TO DATE

The Diocese has established or completed the following:

Raising Awareness and Education

58 Information and speaking events that have reached approximately 11 000 people who have been educated and informed in parishes/other church denominations/organisations about HIV/AIDS and related issues, needs of PWA's, Diocesan projects and other AIDS organisations.
17 workshops in basic AIDS education and spiritual, ethical and theological issues relating to HIV/AIDS, reaching approximately 1 500 people.
19 HIV/AIDS workshops reaching 3600 young people aged 10 to 30 years. Amongst these were workshops which included the topics of the basic facts of HIV/AIDS, sexuality, sex education, reproductive health and sexually transmitted infected. They were conducted in the areas of Edenvale in 1998 and in Tsakane in 2001 and 2003, both on the East Rand, targeting Diocesan Youth; and young people in the Eastern Highveld region of Mpumalanga in the communities of Vukuzakhe (1999), eThandukukhanye (1999), Tjakastad (2000), Mayflower (2000), Fernie (2000), Daggakraal (2001), Driefontein (2001), Dundonald (2002), Bettiesgoed (2002).
A Diocesan Men's Indaba in Tsakane, East Rand, on HIV/AIDS, cultural and gender issues reaching 400 men (2002).

Home-based Care - Eastern Highveld Region - Mpumalanga

Because of the poverty and lack of resources in this region and because the Department of Health in Mpumalanga had no home-based care programme in place, the Diocese, focussing mainly on the Albert Luthuli municipality in Gert Sibande District, provided home-based care training for caregivers of various church denominations and faiths in a number of communities in the area. This was possible through funding received from the Department of Health from 1999 - 2002. Because of problems experienced within the Mpumalanga Department of Health, the Diocese did not receive funding for 2003 and 2004. Together with a small amount of funding in its training fund and Christian Aid funding, the Diocese was able to continue with home-based care training in the Albert Luthuli municipality of the Eastern Highveld region of Mpumalanga. The home-based care training in this region has resulted in the establishment of 24 community-based home-based care projects (over 1 000 caregivers have been trained), each with its own co-ordinator and management committee in the following areas (the year in brackets indicates the year in which the training took place):

· Silobela (2000) - Siyaqhubeka Home-based Care. Follow-up training - 2002.

· Elukwatini (2000) - Elukwatini Home-based Care. Follow-up training - 2002.

· Tjakastad (2000) - Tjakastad Home-based Care. Follow-up training - 2002.

· Nhlazatshe (2000) - Nhlazatshe Home-based Care. Follow- up training - 2002.

· Mayflower (2001) - Simunye Home-based Care. Follow-up training and counselling training - 2002.

· Glenmore (2002) - Ithemba Lesizwe Home-based Care. Follow-up training - 2004.

· Dundonald (2002) - Uthandolwethu Home-based Care. Follow-up training - 2004.

· Fernie I (2002) - Senzokuhle Home-based Care

· Fernie II (2002) - Lucedolwesizwe Home-based Care

· Bettiesgoed (2002) - Lindokuhle Home-based Care

· Swallowsnest (2002) - Umzamo Home-based Care. Follow-up training - 2004.

· Mooiplaas (2003) - Sinothando Home-based Care

· Vlakplaas (Steynsdorp) (2003) - Baphikeleli Home-based Care

· Badplaas (2003) - Badplaas Home-based Care

· Nhlazatshe No. 5 (2003) - Bavumile Home-based Care

· Kromdraai Home-based Care (2003). Follow-up training - 2004.

· Mshayazafe (Ngonini) (2004)

· Nhlaba Home-based Care (2004)

· Asiphathisane Home-based Care, Mbhejeka (2004)

· Uthando Home-based Care, ka-Malahleka (2004)

· Funda Ukuzenzela Home-based Care, Waverley (2004)

· 'We Support Our Nation' Home-based Care, Redhill (2004)

· Isithembiso Home-based Care, Glenmore (2004)

· Dundonald Home-based Care (2) (2004)

One or both Diocesan AIDS Co-ordinators attended all the home-based care training workshops. Anglican priest, Fr. Peter Mbatha, who works in the Mayflower area also attended the training workshops of Mayflower, Glenmore, Dundonald, Fernie I and II, Bettiesgoed and Swallowsnest as they fall within his area of work. Pastor Philemon Matsi of the Apostolic Faith Mission was in attendance at many of the other workshops.

Comic Relief funding covers the transport and telephone costs of a local person in the Albert Luthuli Municipality who assists the Diocesan AIDS Co-ordinators with the monitoring of the above-mentioned projects.

Home-based care training was also conducted outside of the above area in Wesselton in the District of Ermelo in 2003. The Philasande Empowerment and Counselling Centre was established after this training. The Centre is based at St Paul's Anglican church in Wesselton.

Concerned Christian Counsellors a home-based care project which operates in the Afghanistan informal settlement outside Kinross has very strong Anglican involvement through Fr. Brian Luff, the Anglican Archdeacon based in Secunda.

Home-based Care - East Rand - Gauteng

The Department of Health, Gauteng, was proactive and began implementing its programme of home-based care in 2000. This involved the training of carers in communities on the East Rand. Projects approved by the Department of Health were funded by them. These funds did not cover all project expenses and needs. Several community-based projects approached the Diocese for assistance. They were:

Leth'ithemba (formerly Kwaze Kwasa) Home-based Care, Katlehong South
Siyaphila Home-based Care, Rondebult
Vosloorus Home Care Services, Vosloorus
khono Home-based Care, Ratanda
Bambanani Home-based Care, Dukathole

Leth'ithemba, Ikhono and Bambanani are partly funded by the Department of Health. The Diocese has been invited to meet with caregivers operating in the impoverished Greenfields informal settlement outside Eden Park and Thokoza with a view to seeing how they can be assisted.

Home-based Care projects initiated by Anglicans in the Diocese, comprising Anglicans and members of other church denominations and faiths and involved in the care of members of the community are:

Tshepo-Hope Care and Counselling Centre, Tsakane
Zakheni Home-based Care, Tembisa West
Udumolwethu Home-based Care, Wattville

A training course in home-based care was conducted for caregivers living in the community of Tsakane (1999). Tshepo-Hope and Zakheni are partly funded by the Department of Health Gauteng. Some members of the Anglican Women's Fellowship were trained in home-based care in 2001 as well as a group of caregivers from the Uniting Reform Church - also in 2001. Volunteers from parishes in the Katlehong and Vosloorus Archdeaconries were trained in Katlehong in 2002 by Florence Ngobese, Diocesan AIDS Co-ordinator. Volunteers are discouraged from forming their own home-based care projects and competing with existing projects which may or may not be funded by government in the area. They are encouraged to visit the projects and offer their support. Some volunteers are absorbed into existing projects. Diocesan training equips the volunteers to come alongside their own church members who are sick and dying and to provide support for home-based care projects operating in their respective communities. In 2003, support group members attached to Ikhono Home-based care in Ratanda, outside Heidelberg, were trained in home-based care by Florence Ngobese. In all, approximately 130 caregivers have been trained through the Diocese on the East Rand.

Parishes are linked to the various projects and this ensures a steady stream of clothes, blankets and bedding, aqueous cream, vaseline, household detergents, food, toys etc. into the projects.

Through funding received from Comic Relief, several caregivers attached to the Tshepo-Hope Care and Counselling Centre, Leth'ithemba Home-based Care and Zakheni Home-based Care have benefited from volunteer incentives. Tshepo-Hope and Leth'ithemba have had counsellors and pre-school teachers trained and are able to pay them a stipend from funds received from Comic Relief. Leth'ithemba and Tshepo Hope have been assisted with food for the two creches, rent, light and water costs etc with funding received from the Bishop Simeon Trust. The two creches in Mayflower and Wesselton have been assisted with the purchase of creche/pre-school equipment, food (BST), teacher training (Comic Relief) and incentives (Comic Relief).

The Hardship Fund (largely funded by BST) assists all projects and people not related to projects where there is dire need. It helps the Diocese to supply E-pap to projects unable to afford their own. E-pap (an immune-boosting porridge) is taken not only by the very poor to enable them to take their TB and other medication with the added advantage of strengthening them and enhancing their quality of life, it is also taken by a number of caregivers who are themselves HIV positive. The Fund assists very poor people to bury their loved ones. The Fund assists with patient transport, food parcels when required etc. Tshepo-Hope's creche and pre-school is partly funded by the Department of Social Development.

The Children's Education Fund (largely funded by BST) helps children living in child-headed households to be transported to schools which are outside the communities where they live. It pays for school uniforms when needed, school stationery, books and school outings. Recently, the Fund assisted over one hundred children from the Leth'ithemba creche and pre-school to go on a special outing to a swimming pool outside of the area. The children have also visited the Johannesburg International Airport. Over a hundred children from the Daggafontein primary school in Springs were able to visit the Johannesburg Zoo. These children come from the nearby informal settlement called Vukuzenzele. Some of the children are HIV positive, some have been orphaned. All are affected. The Fund enabled 60 orphans attached to the Khulumani Feeding Scheme in Vukuzakhe, to have an outing in nearby Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, at the end of November 2003.

Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Creches/Preschools

These were established to meet the needs of pre-school children and family members in the care of home-based care projects. Nearly all the children are HIV infected and affected children. A small number of vulnerable children from the community also attend the facilities.

Leth'ithemba Educare was established in Katlehong South in October 2001. They have a registration of 120 children. The creche and pre-school premises were bought and have recently been refurbished with funds received from the United Kingdom.
Tshepo-Hope Day-Care Centre was started in Tsakane in June 2002. The crèche and pre-school has 74 children in its care. 32 of the children are HIV positive. 20 school-going orphans attend the feeding scheme at the Centre after school.
Wesselton Creche and Preschool was started in August 2003 and has a registration of 24 children.
Othandweni Creche and Preschool in Mayflower began in August 2003 and has 24 children in its care.

Comic Relief funding provides for the training and incentives of fifteen teachers in early childhood development. There are other creches and pre-schools in the Diocese which are run by various parishes but they do not specifically target HIV affected and infected children. Increasing numbers of HIV affected and infected children attend these facilities.

Other Projects in the Diocese involving Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Daggafontein Pre- and Primary School serves the informal settlement of Vukuzenzela, outside Springs, and has a registration of 170 children. Some of the children are HIV positive, many have been orphaned and the number of children living in child-headed households is increasing in the settlement.
Zakheni Home-based Care in Tembisa West has a registration of 169 orphans. Three caregivers have been trained as child-minders. They work specifically with the orphans. One of their functions is to help the children access grants and food parcels through the Department of Social Development.
St Boniface Anglican Church’s Feeding Scheme in Vosloorus targets school-going orphans and vulnerable children who are given a plate of nourishing food to eat after school each day. Approximately 50 children benefit from the scheme. This number is expected to increase as the year progresses.
St Albans Anglican Church Ithemba Lethu Soup Kitchen, Daveyton, feeds 200 families twice weekly. The soup kitchen also feeds 150 orphans and vulnerable children at a primary school two blocks away from the church.
Khulumani Children’s Care in Vukuzakhe, Volksrust was started by an Anglican Mothers’Union member who together with women from other church denominations, feed 60 orphans from primary and high schools in the township each day after school. They visit the children in their homes each day and assist the children wherever possible to access grants, sort out problems at school, accompany children to the local clinic when they are unwell etc.
St Peter and St Paul Anglican Church in Zakhile, Standerton, is feeding 40 orphans and vulnerable children in the primary school a few blocks away from the church. Clothing is collected and distributed amongst the children.

Project management

· A two-day workshop for management committee/board members, co-ordinators and senior caregivers took place in November 2002 for the following projects on the East Rand:

Leth'ithemba Home-based Care, Katlehong South

Tshepo-Hope Care and Counselling Centre, Tsakane

Zakheni Home-based Care, Tembisa West

· A three-day workshop for management committee/board members, co-ordinators and senior caregivers took place in October 2003 in Nhlazatshe for the following projects in the Albert Luthuli municipality in Mpumalanga:

Elukwatini Home-based Care

Tjakastad Home-based Care

Nhlazatshe Home-based Care

Bavumile Home-based Care (Nhlzatshe No. 5)

Sinothando Home-based Care, Mooiplaas

Baphikeleli Home-based Care, Vlakplaas

Badplaas Home-based Care

Kromdraai with Nhlaba Home-based Care

Siyakhula Home-based Care, Hartebeeskop

· A three-day workshop for management committee/board members, co-ordinators and senior caregivers took place in October 2004 in Dundonald for the following projects in the Albert Luthuli municipality in Mpumalanga:

Simunye Home-based Care, Mayflower

Umzamo Home-based Care, Swallowsnest

Lindokuhle Home-based Care, Bettiesgoed

Ithemba Lesizwe Home-based Care, Glenmore

Uthandolwethu Home-based Care, Dundonald

Senzokuhle Home-based Care, Fernie I

Lucedolwesizwe Home-based Care, Fernie II

'We Support Our Nation' Home-based Care, Redhill

Fundukuzenzela Home-based Care, Waverley

Isithembiso Home-based Care, Glenmore

The Chairman of the management committee of Simunye Home-based Care in Mayflower proposed at the Dundonald project management workshop (above the N17) the formation of a forum of Chairpersons and Co-ordinators. The proposal was well received and the forum will be launched early in 2005. It is hoped that Chairpersons and Co-ordinators of projects below the N17 will be incorporated into the forum. This forum will further strengthen the work of the projects in the various communities in the Albert Luthuli municipality.

Care of the Caregivers

· Two 'care of the caregiver' workshops took place in May 2003 for the caregivers of the following projects on the East Rand:

Kwaze Kwasa Home-based Care, Katlehong South

Tshepo-Hope Home-based Care, Tsakane

Zakheni Home-based Care, Tembisa West

Bambanani Home-based Care, Dukathole

At the request of the caregivers who attended the 'care of the caregiver' workshops, an HIV/AIDS Eucharist is conducted on the third Wednesday of each month at St Boniface Anglican Church in Germiston. It is well supported by the caregivers some of whom bring their clients/patients who are well enough to the service.

· 70 caregivers from Leth'ithemba HBC, Tshepo-Hope HBC, Zakheni HBC, Bambanani HBC and Siyaphila HBC attended a one-day workshop on 24 March 2004 at St Boniface Anglican church in Germiston. The focus of the workshop was caring for the carer, burnout and antiretroviral treatment.

· 72 caregivers from Leth'ithemba HBC, Tshepo-Hope HBC, Zakheni HBC, Bambanani HBC and Siyaphila HBC attended a two-day workshop on 'Care of the Caregiver' on 12 and 13 August 2004. The workshop focussed on:

Living positively with HIV/AIDS

Counselling skills

Infection control

Death and grieving process

The TASO community-based approach to HIV/AIDS

Stress and burnout

· 130 caregivers from the following projects attended a three-day care of caregiver workshop in Nhlazatshe on 29 - 31 October 2004:

Bavumile Home-based Care, Nhlazatshe

Elukwatini Home-based Care

Nhlazatshe Home-based Care

Kromdraai Home-based Care

Nhlaba Home-based Care

Ngonini Home-based Care

Vlakplaas Home-based Care

Moddergat Home-based Care

Arnmburg Home-based Care

Tjakastad Home-based Care

Asiphathisane Home-based Care, Mbhejeka

Uthando Home-based Care, ka-Malahleka

Badplaas Home-based Care

These projects are in various communities below the N17 which is the main highway from Ermelo to Mbabane, Swaziland.

· 130 caregivers from the following projects attended a three-day Care of the Caregiver workshop in Mayflower on 3 - 5 December 2004:

Lindokuhle Home-based Care, Bettiesgoed

Uthandolwethu Home-based Care, Dundonald

'We Support Our Nation' Home-based Care, Redhill

Umzamo Home-based Care, Swallowsnest

Luncedolwesizwe Home-based Care, Fernie II

Senzokuhle Home-based Care, Fernie I

Simunye Home-based Care, Mayflower

Ithemba Lesizwe Home-based Care, Glenmore

Masebonisane Home-based Care, Diepdale

Fundukuzenzela Home-based Care, Waverley

Isithembiso Home-based Care, Glenmore

These projects are in various communities above the N17 in Mpumalanga close to the Swaziland border.

The Wellness Management Programme

This was initiated at provincial level and is aimed at strengthening the capacity of parishes in the CPSA to provide holistic care to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS thereby enhancing and expanding their quality of life.

· 25 East Rand members of the Mothers' Union and Anglican Women's Fellowship were trained in August 2003 as master trainers in the Wellness Programme.

· 13 Mpumalanga members of the Mothers' Union and Anglican Women's Fellowship were trained in November as master trainers.

20 parishes on the East Rand and in the Eastern Highveld region of Mpumalanga had been trained by these trainers in the Wellness Programme by the end of June 2004.

Archdeaconry HIV/AIDS Education and Counselling

242 HIV/AIDS counsellors have been trained in the following Archdeaconries:

Near East Rand Archdeaconry in June 2003.
Vosloorus Archdeaconry in September/October 2003.
Far East Rand Archdeaconry in November 2003.
Katlehong Archdeaconry in March/April 2004.
Cathedral Archdeaconry in June/July 2004.
North Rand Archdeaconry (An HIV/AIDS counselling workshop commenced on 19 February 2005 and will be completed on 12 March 2005 when an additional 47 counsellors will have been trained).

These volunteer counsellors provide much needed support to individuals, family members, parish and community projects and clinics. Monthly meetings in the above-mentioned Archdeaconries following the initial training provide ongoing training and support for the counsellors. Attendance at these meetings has been good.

We are very grateful to all our local and international funders who have generously supported the HIV/AIDS work that has taken place in the Diocese thereby increasing our effectiveness, outreach and impact. They are:

The Bishop Simeon Trust (UK)
Comic Relief (UK)
His Honour, Judge Graham and Mrs Boal
Michael Parkinson (UK)
Saxton, Bampfylde and Hever (UK)
The Bampfylde Family Trust (UK)
Douglas Board (UK)
The Community of St Mary the Virgin
Professor W Doubleday
The Compass Rose Society
Nancy Robson
DFID (UK)
Christian Aid (UK)
Holy Trinity Church with St Mary's Church, Guildford (UK)
St Martins in the Field, Trafalgar Square (UK)
St George's Parish, Kensington (UK)
Partners in Mission for Nippon Sei Ko Kai
Parthenon Trust
Diocese of Bunbury through their CATO programme (Australia)
The Presiding Bishops World Relief Fund (USA)
USPG
Trinity Church, Aurora, Toronto, Canada
St Johns Lafayette Square, Washington (USA)
The Revd Dr Mark Anschutz, St Michael and All Angels Church, Dallas (USA)
The Very Revd. Peter Haynes, St Michael and All Angels, Corona del Mar (USA)
Kanuga Conferences Inc, Hendersonville (USA)
The Rt Revd Harry Shipps, Savannah (USA)
International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains
Mpumalanga Department of Health
Parishes within the Diocese of the Highveld: St Chads - Edenvale, St Dunstans - Benoni, All Souls - Northmead, St Michael and All Angels - Boksburg
Diocesan Anglican Women's Fellowship - Diocese of the Highveld
Other contributors

All contributions to further the HIV/AIDS work of the Diocese are greatly appreciated. Any contribution can be made payable to the Diocese of the Highveld Social Projects Account and addressed to:

The Diocesan Administrator

Diocese of the Highveld

P.O. Box 563

BRAKPAN

1540

South Africa

DIOCESAN AIDS CO-ORDINATORS: LYNNE COULL & FLORENCE NGOBESE

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CO-ORDINATOR: MARLENE RODDA

4 March 2005