2010: A Year for Training and Awareness

Happy New Year!
2010 is starting off with SANTA trainings for Philisa HBC. SANTA trainings are 6 weeks long and are a practical and theoretical course in Home Based Caring. The carers are trained in a hospital in Mthatha and at the end receive their certification as a Home Based Carer.
Ten carers from Philisa are starting this training today and we had hoped that ten from Mdumbi HBC would also be able to start today, however because of some disorganization we will have to make a new booking for them later. Lindelwa and I will be spending time with them next week to help them get back on track with their work after the Christmas break.
We are hoping to be able to train the carers in many different areas over the next few months. PMTCT, VCT,POTTA, peer councelling, and wellness trainings are just a few of the trainings we are hoping to organize. Along with training them ourselves in monitoring and evaluation and business and management.
With the TransCape HIV program kicking off in Ward 22 this month, Siyakhula HBC will be feeling the impacts of more awareness in that area. 5 of their carers were trained in VCT and will be helping in the clinic and all of the carers are excited about attending the awareness days and being able to do more peer councelling.