The lack of trained professionals who can provide treatment and care continues to present a major constrain on health care systems in low income countries. More than 4 million additional doctors, nurse, midwives, managers and public health care works are urgently needed to avert serious crisis in healthcare delivery in 57 countries around the world, 26 of these in sub Saharan Africa (WHO 2006). This shortfall is negatively affecting the AIDS responses in many countries.
The Community Media Trust (CMT) received a grant from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) to specifically extend CMT’s treatment literacy project to the Southern African region. Treatment Literacy for Southern Africa has programmes in Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho using the most widely spoken vernacular in the countries: Chichewa, Portuguese and Sesotho respectively.
Treatment Literacy is the provision of accurate information about the science behind the disease and treatment, in this case for HIV and AIDS. Treatment Literacy is based on the belief that if people are more aware of the science behind their disease and how their medication works, then they are more able to understand prevention strategies, how they may reduce their risk of infection, how antiretroviral drugs work and why adherence is critical. Treatment Literacy also promotes advocacy around access to treatment and service delivery.
CMT’s Siyayinqoba Beat It! Treatment Literacy Series (TLS) is a non-broadcast series that provides detailed treatment literacy information. The TLS is intended for training peer educators, treatment supporters, home-based care givers and people living with HIV/AIDS. It is designed for organisations that want to provide training support for HIV/AIDS services. The series consists of a variety of DVDs, each covering a comprehensive range of topics on aspects of Prevention, Treatment, Positive Living and Human Rights.
The programme in the region uses a combination of interventions to facilitate dialogue between the Treatment Literacy Prevention Practitioners (TLPPs) and the community on HIV/AIDS-related issues. This includes face-to-face interactions, a community radio show and a live (De Safio) television show.
Trained TLPPS are available to work in clinics/hospitals, social institutions, government structures, prisons, schools, support groups and the general population.
The programme is intended to enable its audience, regardless of status, to respond positively to the impact of the epidemic in their lives. The benefit to the audience includes:
- scientific knowledge of HIV/AIDS;
- allowing people to take responsibility for their own health as well as the health of the people they care for; and
- becoming socially active in addressing the challenges of the epidemic.
The programme promotes:
- voluntary counselling and testing;
- openness and stigma reduction;
- action on issues of gender violence;
- condom and safe sex promotion;
- treatment support for those on ARVs; and
- intervening in the local clinics to address the absence of key medications and stock outages of essential drugs.
