Feature: Home Based Care
In 2010, the African Children’s Book Box Society was approached by the Foxes’ NGO in Mufindi District Tanzania to fund a new program that was being promoted by the Tanzanian government. The District of 30,000 people was decimated by the effects of HIV/AIDs. 37% of the villagers were infected. People were dying. Some children were left without parents or grandparents. The Home Based Care program’s aim was to curtail the spread of HIV.
Local volunteers were recruited in 13 of the 16 Mufindi District villages. Today, those same villages continue to have Home Based Care volunteers who serve their own villages by offering first-aid and community health education. The volunteers encourage all to get tested for HIV and remind those on treatment to stay on track.
There are two volunteers for each village. Every year there are training seminars covering various topics, including:
• HIV counselling: making arrangements for counselling and treatment, locating new patients for treatment; dispelling myths around HIV;
• First Aid: Advocating for those with TB, mossy feet, malaria, infections;
• Wound care: identifying a serious case that requires clinic intervention, how to redress and change a bandage, how to maintain a sterile/clean field to work;
• Family planning: the resources available, dispelling myths and local legends, answering questions regarding family planning options, and how to discuss options with villagers/patients;
• Identifying vulnerable children and families;
• Proper nutrition, especially for children and mothers;
• Hygiene: good hand-washing technique, importance of hygiene to prevent spread of disease.
The Home Based Care volunteers are trusted members of their own villages. They have saved countless lives, restored hope and dignity to the sick and dying, and provided care to families.
The volunteers report to Foxes’ NGO. They are provided with a stipend and first-aid supplies. The program was funded by ABB for the first six years and since 2016 has been funded by ABB’s fundraising partner, Mufindi Orphans Canada. ABB is committed to support this program in the long term.
