Aids Response
Health Care in Cape Town

Our purpose is to improve service delivery in the HIV and AIDS Sector by providing wellness support and capacity building programmes to health workers, caregivers and their organisations.

Purpose Statement: Our purpose is to improve service delivery in the HIV and AIDS Sector by providing wellness support and capacity building programmes to health workers, caregivers and their organisations. We focus on providing psycho-social support to HIV and AIDS organizations providing services across the prevention, treatment, care and support spectrum in the Western Cape, with expansion plans in place for the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Limpopo. We focus primarily on self-care workshops that provide participants with a safe space to share and learn new tools for stress-relief. Care for Caregivers programme (CFC) We provide support and care to those who care for people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS to renew their spirit and to enable them to carry out their work more effectively. Whether home-based, clinical or pastoral, caregivers are central to all strategies aimed at combating HIV and AIDS. Yet little attention is paid to supporting and sustaining those at the coalface of the pandemic. There is a great demand for the Care for Caregivers (CFC) workshops. These CFC workshops promote self-care techniques and education for caregivers in HIV and AIDS related organisations. The workshops were initially provided to only five Community Organisations. Since 2007, we have been working with similar organisations in the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape. Caregivers are provided with self-care techniques, a space to reflect on and share their experiences and to find healthy, sustainable ways of coping with the trauma and stress imposed by the pandemic. Phase One: Caregivers are provided with a space for self-reflection and to explore stress management and coping mechanisms. Phase Two: Caregivers explore a deeper understanding of self, enhance communication skills and are trained in conflict management. Phase Three: Highlights the individual and communal benefit of mourning. Using various methods, including physical relaxation and breathing techniques, caregivers explore cultural mourning practices and grieving rituals. The sessions are developed in response to organisational needs. It also incorporates a wide range of interactive and holistic approaches such as narrative therapy, yoga, reflexology, relaxation techniques and art therapy.