[procaare] Re: Pre-6th HCC: Taking care of caregivers (12)

[Joy & Smuts <procaare@healthnet.org>]

Re: Pre-6th HCC: Taking care of caregivers (12)
1. Joy k., Uganda
2. Rosemary Smuts, South Africa
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1. Joy k., Uganda

I agree with the counsellor from Botswana. Indeed the work of the carers is overwhelming
to them especially if the carers are elderly or they are also infected with HIV/AIDS.

The problem in Botswana is no different from that of Uganda.The old and the young suffer
stress and physical exhaustion, which leads to a carer giving inadequate care to the
patient.

Indeed caregivers should be trained on how to care for these people but how many health
workers know how to give a holistic care to a patient let alone to the carer?

In Uganda we are trying to teach health workers about Palliative care and hold some
workshops for caregivers so that they are equipped with skills in communication, nursing
and nutrition etc.

The problem at times is the attitude of our heath workers towards HIV/AIDS itself and at
times the relationship of the patient with the carer. We have taught, and taught but the
problem is great and worst of all the pandemic is still going on.

Hospices with special and well paid health workers could be the only solution, because
communities are becoming poorer and poorer due to this epidemic and many of the carers
tend to get tired and give up.

What can we do as health workers, consellors, nutrition adavisers, physiotherpists, and
occupational therapists not forgetting spiritual caregivers?

Joy k
Uganda
Email: kalyebush@yahoo.com

**************************

2. Rosemary Smuts, South Africa


Thank-you Sithandazile for a heartfelt and well-written observation,which we concur with.


Rosemary Smuts
Caring Network,
Cape Town.
South Africa
Email: caring@netdial.co.za

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