Introduction

Tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases (e.g. stroke, carotid stenosis), other forms of heart diseases, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and AIDS are the leading causes of death in our society. Lay health workers are on the front-line in under-resourced areas to offer education, mentoring and support services to those who suffer from these dreaded diseases. The provision of the Dreaded Disease and HIV and AIDS Awareness programme will equip the lay health workers with the knowledge and skills to perform their tasks.

Course Description

This course is intended to enable lay people and healthcare workers to help individuals and groups to approach the HIV and AIDS pandemic, and any other dread disease, in an integrated way so that the condition may be managed satisfactorily. The care workers will be able to assist those

suffering from, or living closely with, conditions such as HIV and AIDS and other dread diseases. The care workers will also help patients to understand and accept the conditions and take positive and necessary steps to enrich the quality of life of the sufferer.

Target Audience

Lay counsellors, community healthcare workers and care workers in NGOs, faith-based organisations, hospitals, clinics and support agencies, including care workers in Government Health and Social Services facilities.

learning outcomes

After completing the course, you will be able to:

Counsel an individual in a structured manner
Describe counselling principles, process and techniques
Educate and work with the community with regard to STIs. (STIs including HIV and AIDS)
List roles, functions and scope of practice of a lay counsellor
Understand the principles and processes of community participation
Facilitate participatory community development processes
Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a health intervention plan in a community
Plan and promote nutritional programmes to improve health
Practice according to relevant ethical and legal codes
Provide care to a terminally ill patient and support to the family

Course Content

The key themes/topics that the course will cover:

Increased community awareness on prevention, knowledge and management of HIV and AIDS and other STIs to assist community members to make good decisions
Understand the rights of HIV-positive people
Use community resources productively
Plan nutritional meals with different foods and food groups
Apply counselling principles, processes and techniques
Understand the role, functions and scope of practice of a lay counsellor
Provide home-based care for a terminally ill patient
Understand legal and ethical behaviour in healthcare
Use community participation for health issues
Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a community health intervention plan

ADMISSION

Any equivalent qualification on NQF level 3 (maths

literacy and numeracy), with relevant practical

experience.

Training Delivery

The course will be delivered either through blended, eLearning or full contact mode and mentoring in the workplace, depending on the preferences of the client.

Requirements

Student must have access to a computer and internet.

Duration

The duration of the course is 20 days for Theory and 47 days for work based learning/experience.

Assessments

Assessments will include assignments, formal theoretical assessment and a Portfolio of Evidence.

Award

A Health Systems Trust Certificate of Completion will be given to students who complete the short course.

A Health Systems Trust Certificate of Competence will be given to students who have completed all the assessments and have been certified competent.

Students will obtain 54 credits towards a Further Education and Training Certificate: Public Awareness Promotion of Dread Disease and HIV/AIDS at NQF Level

Fees

The course fees vary, based on the number of enrolments by an organisation for the short course. A quotation per student will be given by the Course Co-ordinator, Cassius Semaushu at Cassius.Semaushu@hst.org.za. Course fees must be paid in full prior to the course start date.