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NGO/FBO SECTORS
Dr Janet Giddy, McCord Hospital
At the August "Religious Leaders'and
HIV/AIDS Researchers' Forum", Dr. I.S. Mekoa,
Reverend I.T. Moeketsi and Professor D.L. Mkize
enlightened the audience on "African Traditional
Thought on Matters of Health and African Traditional
Medicine". Discussions focused on African
traditional medicine and the importance of integrating
African traditional and western medicine. The
forum series is co-hosted by The World Conference
on Religion and Peace (WCRP) and HIVAN.
Patricia Mpanza assisting Francis
Steele from Sinosizo,
with registration at the Shallcross forum
In October, HIVAN, in association with the Shallcross
Friends of the Library, launched the HIV/AIDS
Community Forum Series. The aim of the forum is
to enhance networking, collaboration and information-sharing
among local organisations involved in HIV/AIDS
activities. Some of the organisations present
were: the Dream Centre (a palliative medical care
centre in Pinetown), the Pinetown Child and Family
Welfare Association, the Chatsworth Child Welfare
Society and the Shallcross Clinic. Diakonia Council
of Churches, the Islamic Medical Association and
Peacehaven (a crisis and trauma centre) also attended.
A representative from each of these organisations
gave a short presentation on aims, objectives
and activities of their organisations.
Dr Janet Giddy of McCord Hospital gave an informative
presentation on Anti-retrovirals (ARVs). She explained
how ARVs work, how they should be used, the cost
of the treatment and the importance of adherence
to the drug regime.
Buzz groups identified the following issues which
emanated from the presentations and which were
relevant for the Shallcross community: Information-sharing
and education of the youth and business planning
for NGOs to increase accountability when applying
for and accessing funding.
An important and often overlooked point made,
was that organisations should construct proposals
based on solid business plans and register as
NGOs to reassure potential funders of their accountability.
In respect of these issues: HIVAN aims to host
workshops and seminars on business planning for
NGOs and various HIV/AIDS related issues including
awareness and education on HIV/AIDS vaccines.
Vaccine workshops will be done in collaboration
with the MRC HIV Vaccine Trial Unit. If your organisation
is interested in vaccine education and awareness
please contact: Fathima Abdulla on 031-260 4653
, e-mail: abdullaf@nu.ac.za or Nobuhle Mkhize
on 031-203 4700, e-mail: nobuhle.mkhize@mrc.ac.za
MRC KZN AIDS FORUM
The July MRC KZN AIDS forum co-hosted by HIVAN
was presented by Carol-Ann Foulis, HIVAN's researcher
for the "Community Responses to HIV/AIDS"
research project. The title of her talk was "HIV
Prevention and Behaviour Change Efforts Amongst
Youth in KZN". In her presentation, Carol-Ann
discussed factors that make it difficult for African
youth to demonstrate behaviour change and engage
in safe sex even though various prevention interventions
and HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns have been implemented
with them.
In September a presentation entitled "Mother
to Child Transmission (MTCT): breastfeeding choices
update" was presented by Professor Hoosen
(Jerry) Coovadia in Durban and Pietermaritzburg
and by Dr Ruth Bland in Mtunzini. Professor Coovadia
and Dr. Bland, both eminent researchers in postnatal
transmission of HIV, emphasized that replacement
feeding does not offer the same protective benefits
as does breastmilk which has high immune building
properties. However, when a mother is HIV positive,
making the correct breastfeeding choice depends
on more than her HIV status. The current WHO/UNAIDS
guidelines regarding prevention of mother to child
transmission, replacement feeding and exclusive
breastfeeding require that an assessment be made
of the following factors before making a decision
not to breastfeed. Is replacement feeding acceptable,
feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe? If
yes, formula feeding and avoidance of all breastfeeding
by HIV-infected mothers is recommended. If no,
exclusive breastfeeding is recommended during
the first months of life, usually the first six
months after which time mothers are encouraged
to terminate breastfeeding.
For more information about breastfeeding choices
or the MRC KZN AIDS FORUM mini site you can visit
: www.hivan.org.za
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