Chatsworth
Child Welfare’s HIV/AIDS Unit:
Giving
hope and Raising Awareness
Chatsworth Child Welfare (CCW) is located a stone’s
throw from the provincial R.K. Khan Hospital and
the bustling Chatsworth Centre, and has been at
the heart of the community for many years. In
1997, the CCW established its HIV/AIDS Unit as
a response to the growing need for education within
the greater Chatsworth area, including the informal
settlements, about the pandemic.
The CCW HIV/AIDS Unit offers the following
services:
• Education and awareness programmes
to all sectors of the community
• Pre- and post-test counselling
• Home-based care
• General counselling, referrals and support
Presently, the Unit is staffed by a co-ordinator,
eight counsellors and several volunteers. Once
a month, basic HIV/AIDS education and awareness
workshops are conducted. “From these workshops
our trainees and caregivers are recruited into
our volunteer force,” said Kogi David, the
Unit co-ordinator. Volunteers play a vital role
in carrying out the Unit’s community outreach
work.
Jabu Buthelezi, who has been with the Unit for
six years, explains that, after working and living
in the community for a long time, “If people
have problems they come to your home; you can’t
tell them to speak to you during working hours
- I must help them.”
Pamela Ntuli, a counsellor like Jabu, has been
working in Chatsworth for over a decade and offers
home-based care. On some days, the situation seems
very bleak; however, when asked what motivates
her to do this kind of work, she says: “It’s
the hope that someday I’ll see this person
talking, walking and working.”
Selvie Somiah spends most of her week doing home-visits
and runs an advice desk at the Montford Library.
Her enthusiasm for her work was inspired by the
need to assist those in her community infected
and affected by HIV and AIDS. Selvie recalls her
first impressions of doing HIV/AIDS work: “Initially
I was scared, but now I’m passionate about
it.”
Volunteer Cheryl Naicker’s involvement
with the Unit was initiated by a close friend’s
personal experience of HIV/AIDS. This young, softly
spoken woman has developed strong ties with the
community over the past seven months. “When
you show commitment,” she says, “people
know you in the area, and they look forward to
your help.”
Reflecting on the success of the Unit, Kogi says:
“The staff’s personal and professional
dedication has made working in the community much
easier and contributed greatly to the success
of the project.” The Unit networks with
a wide range of service providers in order to
harness their expertise and knowledge, so that
HIV and AIDS in Chatsworth can be addressed effectively.
If you wish to find out more about the CCW’s
HIV/AIDS Unit, contact:
Kogi David (Co-ordinator)
10 Rose Height Road, Arena Park
Chatsworth, 4092
Tel: (031) 403 1256
Fax: (031) 403 6137
Email: ccfws@telkomsa.net
Text by Hema Somai, HIVAN Social Science Researcher
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