Three hundred and twenty-nine people receiving Aids treatment and 17 caregivers testing people for Aids in 13 villages is a great achievement for a small organisation in the rural Eastern Cape – but they hope to do much more with new funding.
Mbulelo Faleni, of Alice Hospice, was representing one of eight community organisations funded by Pepfar – the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief. The Eastern Cape community groups, which focus on combating HIV/Aids, as well as other community issues, were invited by the US Embassy’s Community Grants Program to a hand-over ceremony on Thursday.
Three hundred and twenty-nine people receiving Aids treatment and 17 caregivers testing people for Aids in 13 villages is a great achievement for a small organisation in the rural Eastern Cape – but they hope to do much more with new funding.
Mbulelo Faleni, of Alice Hospice, was representing one of eight community organisations funded by Pepfar – the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief. The Eastern Cape community groups, which focus on combating HIV/Aids, as well as other community issues, were invited by the US Embassy’s Community Grants Program to a hand-over ceremony on Thursday.
The groups were awarded over a R1 million for the next year to carry out work that ranges from providing care to orphans and vulnerable children, to offering home-based care to those suffering from Aids-related illnesses.
"We had 229 clients; now we are treating 329. The number has gone up," said Faleni. Noting that young people, in particular, were reluctant to be tested for HIV/Aids, he said they had appointed 17 caregivers who went into surrounding villages to conduct HIV/Aids testing.
"We visit plus minus 13 villages and there is still much more to do, to get people some help," Faleni said.
Babalwa Lobishe, of Never Give Up support group, from Dimbaza, said they supported orphans and vulnerable children in three wards.
"We also distribute food parcels to vulnerable homes and have two clubs – we no longer call them support groups," Lobishe said.
She said that the clubs were attended by about 180 people and activities included financial management classes for foster parents.
"They use government funding, so they need to be educated on how to use it," she said.
Lobishe said they also ran campaigns, educating people on the importance of knowing their status, abstinence and access to treatment.
Diane Darlow and Chantelle Daniels, from Jerusalem Ministries, spoke about their centres in Walmer. One was a centre to help destitute men, some of whom are addicted to alcohol.
"We assist them with their CVs and part-time work and they work around the house in order to live there for free."
Another centre is dedicated to children, who enjoy a free aftercare and creche facilities until Grade 1.
"We also have a home-based care worker who goes into the township and makes sure the children are all right," said Daniels.
Local health department sub district manager, Nikiwe Mthoba, who also attended the function, said they had enjoyed a long partnership with Pepfar.
She spoke about the department's new plan, which is being given impetus by the funding.
"What is happening is that the department of health is re-engineering primary health care in terms of ward-based primary health care."
She said they would go into the community to profile households and, using that knowledge, tailor the assistance they offered.
She said if they come across orphans and vulnerable children, they would refer them to appropriate programmes.
"So we are holistically looking at each household."
Cheryl Schoenberg, of the US Ambassador HIV/Aids Community Grants programme, said each project was required to submit reports twice a year and the deadline for new applications was February 1, 2012.
"This year alone, the community grants programme of the US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa will provide more than $1.9 million to groups throughout South Africa," read a press statement. The funded projects are intended to make a long-term impact in their communities and to be sustainable.
According to the press statement, the kinds of services the grant supports include after-school programmes, home-based care and programmes that help prevent the transmission of HIV/Aids by increasing public awareness and offering psycho-social counselling.
