This project trains volunteers from churches how to support people and their families who are affected by AIDS. The volunteers minister to those with AIDS and other family members in their homes. The volunteers are trained to minister in a way that shows the love of Jesus Christ to mankind. The project also assists with ambulance fees, prescribed medicines, food and hospital fees.
Volunteers encourage people to go for Voluntary Counselling and Testing. Those that test HIV positive are helped to join or form support groups and are helped to live positively with HIV. They meet weekly and share experiences, knowledge and information. At these meetings the HBC officer teaches them topical issues such as herbal therapy, managing stress, and the importance of drug compliance. Above all, the volunteers reach out with the Word of God and encourage them to live a Christian life.
This support group, pictured here, has been one of the success stories. For the first time men joined women in a support group. For many years it was women that were willing to be open about their HIV positive status and it is them that came for the training. The men began to see that the women were being helped and were recovering from sicknesses and so they started coming too. This is a major breakthrough. Bumba support group has 5 men and 15 women.
Caiphas Ngarivhume, the programme manager reports that so far the project has:
- Started in 14 communities; 10 in rural areas and 4 in urban areas.
- Trained 180 volunteers reaching out to 800 patients in all the communities.
In October 2009 the Home Based Care officer, a nursing sister, opened 3 new support groups for people living with HIV at different locations. At one training session the local Headman (chief) attended. This shows acceptance of the programme by the local leadership.
The SEJO porridge and mahewu drink that are used in the Famine Relief project have been very helpful in Home Based Care. Immune boosting herbs are given to the clients not yet on ARVs (Anti-Retroviral Drugs). They nurture the herb plants and use them at home.
The next stage is to be able to help the clients set up income generating activities in which they can be involved so that they have physical exercise, and they can also raise an income to buy medicines and food for themselves.
This ministry has also reduced the orphan burden in the country, as parents live longer with HIV, there are less new orphans in the communities. People no longer take HIV infection as a death sentence because they now know they can live long with HIV using the lessons they learn in support groups.
