Health Care

HIV/AIDS rates in Nkandla are extremely high, with an estimated 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men infected with the virus. In addition, multidrug resistant tuberculosis exasperates an already difficult situation. Extreme poverty persists, with unemployment rates estimated to be about 90 percent. It is important to note that Nkandla spans more than 1100 square miles and that most roads are unpaved. Very few people have automobiles or other forms of transportation. While there are buses (small vans they call “taxis”) most cannot afford the fees. Walking is the primary mode of transportation and while there is a hospital and eleven clinics throughout the region, the distance – and the nature of the roads – make accessing health care and other vital services difficult for the vast majority of people. For those who are sick, it is nearly impossible.

Home Based Care

The Africa Project supports Sizanani Outreach Programme (SOP), a Nkandla based non-government organization delivering services to individuals and families in their homes or via outlying service points (e.g. schools, clinics and other community venues).

  • Home Based Care: Services delivered through SOP’s Home Based Care follow a holistic model. The entire family’s health, education, employment, legal, psychosocial, environment, and nutrition are assessed and services are delivered that address these needs. SOP has three trained teams of caregivers who head out each day to some of the most remote locations in the community.

HIV/AIDS

Sizanani's home-based care and outreach services address the many HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention needs in the community, including:

  • Promoting Adherence to Treatment: Patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS must follow a strict regimen since adherence is linked to treatment success or failure. Many factors contribute to non-intentional and intentional poor adherence. SOP social workers host regular support groups for those in treatment. Caregivers also conduct pill counts, check in with treatment buddies, and provide one on one support to clients as needed.
  • Preventing Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT): HIV positive pregnant mothers enrolled in the PMTCT programme can prevent the spread of the virus to their child. The challenge in this vast, rural setting is to test women early in their pregnancy and get those who are HIV positive enrolled in the programme.
  • Antiretroviral Treatment Down-Referral: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) down-referral services at five of the eleven clinics in Nkandla. Three additional clinics refer their patients to these five clinics for services. The down-referral program enables patients who are on ART to obtain their treatment at their local clinics. This means that these patients no longer have to travel to the Nkandla Hospital each month to collect their treatment or to see the doctor. For many, travelling that distance each month would be nearly impossible and would ultimately result in fewer people having access to the life-saving treatment they need. The down-referral services are provided by Sizanani Outreach Programme's Director, Dr Maria Lindner, and Dr H Ngobese.
  • HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT): Identifying those who are affected by HIV/AIDS is a critical step in preventing further transmission and in ensuring early treatment for those who are infected with the virus. SOP’s HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT)* program is comprised of community caregivers who have been trained to serve as HCT counselors. This team conducts home visits and provides health education and HCT services at various service points. The team also works alongside the Nkandla Hospital and local clinic staff to provide HCT at special activities and events at local community centers and schools.

"The AIDS epidemic in South Africa is devastating families and communities. The country has the world’s largest number of HIV-infected people. Close to half of all orphans in the country have lost their parents to AIDS-related diseases and there are many more children living with sick and bedridden caregivers." UNICEF

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The Africa Project Priorities

The Africa Project's four priority areas:

  • Safety - Every child should have a safe place to live. Read More...
  • Health Care - Access to health care is critical. Read More...
  • Food – When you are hungry nothing else matters. Read More...
  • Education – Hope for their future. Read More...

Tuberculosis

South Africa’s tuberculosis (TB) epidemic is the worst in the world and Nkandla, which is located in the KwaZulu-Natal province, is one of the hardest hit areas. The impact of TB and HIV co-infection is making the situation even worse, and unfortunately, contributing to increased levels of TB in the region. This problem is further exasperated by the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) forms of TB which are very difficult to treat.

  • TB Screening and Treatment: All SOP team members are trained to identify signs of TB and to collect sputum for testing. Once a patient is diagnosed with TB, SOP works to ensure that they get the treatment they need. Like HIV treatment, adherence is crucial, so the team members also check in with clients to support them during their treatment and beyond.