Zimbabwe Caregivers Persevere on the Front line of HIV Care. 05/08/08

SAfAIDS

5/8/08

Mexico City, Mexico – Volunteer caregivers form the backbone of AIDS care in Zimbabwe but lack access to the basic resources they need to provide care for people with HIV in the country. 

According to a new report released today at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, volunteer caregivers are the front-line of home-based care (HBC) services in Zimbabwe, especially in communities where anti-HIV drugs are not available, and urgent steps are needed to recognize and support the vital role they fill. 

To support these unsung heroes, there is a need for more international donor support to reach community level care workers, says the report by the Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), Health & Development Networks and Irish Aid. 

“HBC activities need to be adequately resourced so that timely and high quality care is delivered to those in need,” says Dr David Parirenyatwa, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Welfare in the foreword of the new report. “That is why it is vitally important for the government, the private sector and funding agencies to partner with civil society and to provide significantly more funding to these projects.” 

Programmes that integrate health, economic and social services, including water and sanitation facilities, are required to respond to the needs of infected and affected people. 

Home-based caregivers play a vital role in propping up an overwhelmed Zimbabwean public health system that is failing to cope with the demands of the epidemic.  

“Despite the burdens being faced by caregivers in Zimbabwe, HBC is still one of the most cost-effective ways to deal with illness in the context of a crumbling health system,” states the report titled “Caring From Within”. 

Community volunteers shoulder much of the burden of care, but programmes often fail to supply them with basic essentials such as simple medications, soap or even gloves. As a result, the role of this vital national resource is now largely limited to providing psychological support. 

Volunteer caregivers display high levels of enthusiasm and dedication to their work, however, much of their work remains unpaid, unaccounted for and undervalued in economic terms despite its critical contribution to the overall economy and society in general. In many instances, volunteers are themselves living with or directly affected by HIV/AIDS. Caregivers need to be supported so that they can sustain their own livelihoods and health while undertaking care work. 

“The documentation of home based care work in Zimbabwe is a significant step in sharpening our programming priorities in the country, and possibly elsewhere,” said Peter Power TD, Ireland’s Minister of State for Overseas Development. Irish Aid, Ireland’s official programme of assistance to developing countries, funded the project. “Reducing the impact of HIV and AIDS on communities in developing countries is a priority for Irish Aid and documenting lessons learned is an essential component to shaping effective responses.” Minister Power said. 

International donors need to acknowledge the success that has been registered by HBC projects in Zimbabwe under very difficult conditions and be prepared to channel much needed funds to community-level home-based care work.

Since 2005, Irish Aid has supported 15 HBC initiatives in Zimbabwe. To learn more about the evolution and effectiveness of HBC in the country, the Irish donor group engaged SAfAIDS and HDN to assess and document current best practices within HBC programmes in Zimbabwe.  

The report is available online http://www.safaids.net/files/Caring_from_within_Zimbabwe%20HBC%20findings%20and%20policy%20recommendations.pdf