[procaare] Gaborone CHBC 2001 - Delegate Impressions

[HDN KC Team <correspondents@hdnet.org>]

1st SADC Conference on Community Home Based Care
5th - 8th March 2001
Gaborone, Botswana
- HDN KC Team
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Delegate Impressions on the Conference
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The conference was good and touched on all the essential issues regarding home-based care.
There was a broad perspective yet it successfully retained its focus on home based care.
The conference provided valuable opportunities for sharing, agreeing, disagreeing.

One key message that came up was that the stigma of HIV is the largest stumbling block to
quality home-based care. Also that it is important to care for the carers and that in this
cultural context it was the first time that the essential role of men in care was
contextualised.

We've been able to translate the ideal home based care scenario across a continuum and
analyse the pitfalls and where we can make improvements for example in partnerships,
rivalries, discharge and referral systems.

I thought I perceived a tendency to move away from caring for one individual to supporting
the whole family as a unit. The issue of establishing orphan programmes within home-based
care rather than being seen as a different and separate issue was key. Programmes relating
to orphans rarely work with those in home-based care as they are supported by different
donors and operationalised by different organisations.
- Eric Van Praag, FHI, USA (M)

This was an opportunity that brought people together in Southern Africa. I learnt that it
is critical to unite modern and traditional medicine.
- Galeabe Ketlogetswe, (M)

The conference was enlightening and provided me with a broader spectrum of how people can
make a contribution. I also learnt that the actual situation on the ground is worse that
what we hear in the news. I also leave feeling that there is still hope and we have an
opportunity to revert back to African ideas of helping which focuses on the community in a
collective way. These can once again be revived after feeling the impact of colonialism
which advocated individualism.
- Oscar Motsumi, (M)

Gender was highlighted and it is clear that we need men to be more involved in CHBC. Women
currently dominate the caring role.  Will writing is important and to date not much
education or coverage has been given to it. We also need to know 'how' to pass this
knowledge.  Listening to the personal experiences of the PWAs was powerful.
- A Matthew & Ludo Johwa, (F)

Got a better handle on what's going on in the various countries. Also important to
acknowledge that every model of care has its benefits and we need to support everyone that
is involved at that level.
- Evelyn Isaacs, (F)

Too many ideas. Not enough time and people to do them
- Ruth Thiessen, (F)

Highlighted that poverty is widespread and a huge problem for caregivers. There is an
acute awareness of the need to create employment for people who are HIV-positive. The
conference has brought this issue to the surface. There is also discrimination in the
workplace which needs to be addressed .
- Patricia Farrow and Philomena Lympaney, (F)

Little disappointed because the community perspective was not adequately reflected. Need
more voices from the ground -- be they people living with HIV/AIDS, care givers or
affected children. We should not get second hand information but should hear it directly
from the 'horse's mouth'
Patricia Bakwinya, (F)

The conference was good. It has brought new ideas. The only problem was the language
used - as many of the community people were not well versed with English and the
terminologies used.
- Kwedikiwe Grace, Botwsana, (F)

The meeting was informative and has enabled us to face new challenges. It is important to
consider partnership in CHBC to avoid centering the challenges on an individual i.e. the
patient or the caregiver.
- Swaziland, (F)

The conference was good. My worry is that are people going to change from the culture of
nice speeches and talks, nice write ups and change to action when we go back home?
- Daphine, Botswana, (F)

I was inspired by the presentations made by Ugandans. Networking on the other hand was
also very useful.
- Rose Beatson, Zimbabwe, (F)

Although the conference had positive outcomes, the fact that it was predominantly attended
by Batswana in limited us from hearing what other people in other regions are doing.
- Botswana, (M)

The conference was good especially for people like us from Malawi who are just starting to
respond. Uganda is far ahead of us and some us are using the wisdom we from Uganda to
start up CHBC programs.
- Malawi, (M)

The meeting was good. The plenary sessions were fantastic. The problem is stigma, which
has dreaded us behind. The insurance policy in Malawi has stopped many people opening up.
In Malawi, AIDS is not a reality- Malawians don't have the sense of humanity caring for
each other. By the time they wake up it would be too late. We need more courageous
Malawians to spearhead the fight against AIDS as Noreine did in Uganda.
- Uganda & Malawi, (M)

Volunteers should have attended the conference. We needed their inputs.
- Uyapo Letsholathebe, Botswana, (F)

I appreciated the session on referral and discharge of patients. The pain control
assessment was good.
- Mary Mphafe, Botswana, (F)

It was a good initiative. Perhaps a more integrated approach is needed. Home Based Care
cannot be addressed in isolation.
- Elizabeth Mataka, Zambia (F)

I was happy that Hospice concept was touched. The patient should have a choice of home or
hospice.
- Kgabi Pholoba, Botswana, (F)

Dialogue was created which will hopefully result in resolutions of value being
implemented.
- Dr Ndiki, Botswana, (F)

It the first time that such a conference was held. It's a good start.
- Magdeline Mabuse, Botswana (F)

It was an eye opener. I learnt a great deal from other regions, especially Malawi about
keeping volunteers on the job.
- Patricia Hirchfield, Botswana, (F)

I'm happy that they brought out issues of stress and burnout. People attending the
conference should attend with a view to disseminate the information and not just to be
seen as often happens. Access to retrovirals should also have been discussed. It's a
complex matter and people involved should know about it.
- Boitumelo Makunga, Botswana, (F)

I was a good collective action. Issues and problems were highlighted. The conference has
directed us regarding best practices for CHBC.I think the HDN coverage was very good.
- P.M. Shrestha, (M)

Sharing experiences, especially those from Uganda. I can see that I can make changes in
patient care and home nursing and I believe that I'll be able to implement these things
properly.
- Social worker, Botswana, (M)

Sharing different ideas gave me a better understanding of all the problems of home based
care. I know that we are not alone and we now need to look at how we can sustain our
programmes, stand on our own and help people without depending on others".
- Alice Shumba, Zambia, (F)

In my project we need to address issues of stigma, that is the main thing I will take from
this conference
- Nurse, Botswana, (F)

The best thing that I can do is pass on this information through the radio as many more
people listen to the radio than read newspapers.
- Journalist, Botswana, (M)

Participation has been strong throughout the conference. There was never enough time for
discussion as so many people had questions and comments. This was not a podium - down
conference, everyone shared. As health professionals our focus is too narrow on
bio-medical aspects of care and we need to embrace all the disciplines especially the
spiritual and emotional to provide the best care for our patients and their families.
Dr H Bussman, Botswana, (M)

HDN KC Team
E-mail: correspondents@hdnet.org
www.hdnet.org

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The conference organisers and Health & Development Networks (www.hdnet.org) are grateful
to UNAIDS for their support to this initiative


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