Towards
a more child-friendly health system
In July this year, a number of activists for
children’s rights gathered together in Durban
in response to a call to action by the “Coalition
for Children’s Rights in an HIV+ World”:
to build a civil society campaign, in partnership
with government, focusing on the healthcare rights
and needs of children in our country.
The KZN HIV/AIDS Civil Society Network was formed
through the Children’s Rights Centre, recognising
that government health structures need the co-ordinated
support of civil society organisations for successful
implementation of public health programmes. The
Network shares information and facilitates communication
with other provincial networks, effectively co-ordinates
civil society engagement with HIV/AIDS issues
across KZN, and speaks in a unified voice.
The Network assigned a special ARV Task Force
to focus on strengthening the Department of Health’s
Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Treatment Plan and monitoring
the roll-out of anti-retroviral treatment throughout
KZN. Members of this Task Force include the AIDS
Foundation of SA, ChildLine, Children First, CINDI
Network, HIVAN, Centre for Rural Health, Health
Systems Trust, Lawyers for Human Rights, SACTWU/COSATU,
Sinikithemba, Sinosizo, Treatment Action Campaign,
SA Black Social Workers Association (SABSWA),
LifeLine, SA National Council for Child Welfare,
and the Lesbian and Gay Centre.
The Network’s ARV Task Team has developed
a facility and district-level analysis of potential
ARV Roll-out Teams for communities, from which
contact lists have been drawn up. Using these
contacts, relationships with local role-players
will be strengthened so as to co-ordinate activities
and solve problems together.
As the meeting proceeded, updates on policy and
lobbying initiatives were provided, such as the
People’s Health Summit, the status of the
SA National AIDS Council (SANAC), NACCA (developing
a policy framework for orphans and vulnerable
children), and the HIV/AIDS aspects of the proposed
Children’s Bill. Copies of a “Child-Friendly
Health Charter” were distributed to delegates
as a model for all staff at healthcare facilities
to follow.
The meeting continued with dialogue around informative
presentations on anti-retroviral treatment for
children. Dr Chris Jack, Director of the KZN Department
of Health’s HIV/AIDS Action Unit, explained
that his core function was to manage the preparation
of ARV sites for accreditation and the training
of staff at these facilities. “The treatment
programme is intended to be empowering, to help
people to restore their health and become productive,”
he said, “Staffing shortages are a serious
obstacle, however. Although numerous faith-based
organisations do assist in creative ways, many
more NGO and CBO members are needed to strengthen
the service delivery.”
Discussion also focused on the need for the Departments
of Health, Social Welfare and Home Affairs to
work as closely as possible in the provision of
birth and death certificates and of ID documents,
so that children and their caregivers could secure
access to social grants.
Dr Gurpreet Kindra gave a presentation on the
medical care of children with HIV and AIDS, explaining
that children can be treated, that they respond
well, and that managing good health involves the
whole child – tending not only the body,
but also the spirit. She stressed that testing
and diagnosis of children’s HIV status should
be done as early as possible, to make sure that
any signs of illness are correctly diagnosed.
Key points made regarding the ARV roll-out
plan:
- Prevention counselling must form part of ongoing
treatment programmes.
- While no accurate figures for the number
of HIV-positive children were available, the
DoH target for the first phase of treatment
roll-out is for 10% of ARV recipients to be
children over the age of six months.
- The link between education and adherence
is vital.
- An effective referral system to and between
related service providers (e.g. nutrition, social
security, education) is critical to successful
provision of access to ARVs.
- Support structures for caregivers, youth
and children to advance treatment literacy and
psycho-social counselling are cornerstones of
the plan.
- Once capacity increases and a sound infrastructure
in and around ARV facilities is achieved, the
fear, denial and stigma around HIV and AIDS
should decrease.
The KZN HIV/AIDS Civil Society Network
members noted for follow-up action:
- how to address the special needs of disabled
children in adhering to ARV treatment
- the means available to provide access to
ARVs for wards of the State and children resident
in Places of Safety.
If you would like to know more about or join
up with the KZN HIV/AIDS Civil Society Network,
please contact:
Sue Alexander at the Children’s Rights
Centre
Tel: (031) 3076075 Fax: (031) 307 6074
Postal address: 1st Floor ICL House, 480 Smith
Street, Durban 4001
The KZN Provincial AIDS Action Unit (PAAU) has
produced useful hand-size manuals on anti-retroviral
treatment. For free copies, contact:
Mr E Abdullah at the Provincial AIDS Action Unit
Tel: (033) 394 0270
230 Prince Alfred Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3201
Sondela will publish, in upcoming issues, clear information about ARV treatment for children, how to get the best care possible, adherence advice for caregivers of young children, and other useful material, made available by the Coalition.
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