Further Education and Training Certificate: Public Awareness Promotion of Dread Disease and HIV/AIDS

DURATION:

Theory: 71 days

Work-based learning: 166 days

INTRODUCTION

This qualification is intended to enable lay people and/or healthcare workers to help individuals and/or groups with HIV and AIDS, and any other dread disease, in a way that enhances the satisfactory management of the condition. Skilled workers are needed to support individuals, families and communities affected by and infected with such conditions. HIV and AIDS is a national priority in South Africa and the aim of this qualification is to address the many problems associated with HIV and AIDS and aligned diseases, such as multi drugresistant and extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB), for individuals, families, groups and communities. HIV and AIDS is found in all strata of society, but tends to be more prevalent in poorer communities.

Tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases e.g. stroke, and other forms of heart diseases are the leading causes of death in our society, along with HIV and AIDS. Lay health workers are in the front-line in under-resourced areas to offer education, mentoring and support services to those who suffer from these dreaded diseases such as HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and TB. 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 qualification is intended to enable lay health workers, both voluntary and paid, who find themselves particularly in the front-line of underresourced areas to offer education, mentoring and support services to those living with, or alongside those who suffer from, HIV and AIDS and other conditions. Care workers will be equipped with the knowledge and skill to communicate, educate and counsel individuals, groups and communities on HIV and AIDS, and other dreaded diseases effectively and promote nutrition and personal well-being. The course will teach the learner how to identify health problems in a community, to develop plans for community development, and to solve problems and enhance knowledge of a community through projects, counselling and education. Knowledge and skills will be developed on HIV and AIDS, sexual transmitted infections (STIs) and other conditions.

Learners will be taught how to test for HIV and develop an antiretroviral plan for HIV treatment. The course also teaches community care how to support the terminally ill person. The relevant ethical and legal codes are included to guide the learner on the practice in this regard.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Lay people, care workers, community care workers and ancillary healthcare workers.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, you will be able to:

Communicate with individuals and groups to generate understanding of the HIV/AIDS or other dreaded diseases.
Educate individuals and communities on the causes and effects of infectious diseases (HIV and AIDS) including all sexually transmitted diseases to enable individuals and communities to combat their occurrence.
Engage with individuals and groups to use measures such as community profile, and assessment, education and counselling to improve their own and district health status.

Course Content

The course covers knowledge and skills of:

Education:

Use strategies to deal with risk behaviour, promote personal wellbeing, and planning and promotion of nutritional programmes.
Develop outcomes-based learning programmes, educate and work closely with the community with regards to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

Counsel on HIV and AIDS and other Dreaded diseases:

Develop and implement a client ARV treatment plan.
Counsel a person in a structured environment guided by knowledge of interpersonal relationships to enhance the effectiveness of the counselling process.

Community:

Develop a community profile for a specific community and facilitate community participation.
Development of processes and assisting in facilitating and implementing primary healthcare projects within the community.
Provide care to a terminally ill patient and give support to the family.

Ethics and legal codes:

Practise according to relevant ethical and legal codes.

Admission

Competency in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4.
Working in a workplace/community that cares for people with HIV and AIDS is recommended.

TRAINING DELIVERY

The course will be delivered through eLearning or blended learning as well as through contact and support at the worksite.

REQUIREMENTS

Students must have access to a computer and the internet.

DURATION

The one-year certificate involves:

Theory: 71 days
Work-based learning: 166 days

ASSESSMENTS

Assessments will include formative assignments, test and community projects, and summative theoretical assessment and a practical portfolio of evidence.

AWARD

A Health Systems Trust Certificate of completion will be given to participants who attend the course and successfully complete the assessment process.

After a verification process a Further Education and Training certificate will be issued by HWSETA when a learner has completed all the unit standards in this qualification, practical portfolio of evidence has been assessed and work-based learning has been completed. This is the equivalent of a matric certificate.

FEES

The course fees vary, based on the number of enrolments by an organisation for the 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.