Voluntary caregivers who used to help with home-based care for those living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases in rural areas said they had lost interest in offering their services for free.
“I have been a community caregiver since 2007. In the past, we used to receive medical kits and other necessary day-to-day essentials for a patient. We no longer receive anything and people still expect me to continue to care for patients,” said Charity Lunga.
Lunga added that at one time she was forced to use her own money to buy soap and gloves for the HIV patients she was looking after in Hwange.
Another village health worker, Margret Moyo, said helping sick people, especially those who are bed ridden, was not easy.
“This job needs people who are dedicated and spiritually strong. It’s not easy and there are health risks,” she said.
NAC Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Matabeleland North, Mthokozisi Moyo, said the province had seen a decline in the number of community and home–based caregivers with only 1,205 people volunteering for the programme last year compared to 3,469 enrolled in 2010.
Moyo attributed the decline in caregivers to dwindling donor funding and the availability of antiretroviral drugs that had lessened recurrent sickness.
According to Moyo, the province has 94 872 orphans and vulnerable children who are in need of assistance with only 20,982 receiving help.
Post published in: News