Newsletter from the national HIV/AIDS and TB Programme, Pretoria
Number 37, 15 August 2003
Note from the Editor
The week of 4 August held many highlights for the HIV/AIDS and TB programme. Firstly, the programme participated successfully in the first South African AIDS Conference – an event we also contributed to financially. At the end of the Conference on 6 August, the government, through MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, committed itself to the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS. More news on the Conference will follow in a subsequent newsletter.
This was followed on 8 August by the announcement from Cabinet that it had considered the Joint Health/Treasury Task Team Report, and requested the Department of Health to submit, by the end of September, to submit an implementation plan to scale up prevention programmes, and start implementing an ARV programme in the public sector. The Department has committed itself to this task, and will be calling on many stakeholders to assist in this regard. More information on this will follow in a subsequent newsletter.
Interdepartmental Committee on HIV/AIDS
The National Interdepartmental Committee on HIV/AIDS (IDC) was established in October 1997 on initiative of the Minister of Health. The IDC was set up as a mechanism to facilitate and strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS by government departments at a strategic level.
From the beginning Departments resorted to sending mid level officials to the IDC as their representatives. This meant that the IDC could not resort to their mandate of strategic coordination but had to focus on planning, coordination and support at implementation level. Despite many challenges, the national IDC can claim credit for some successes with respect to initiating and supporting departmental HIV/AIDS programmes.
A description of the national IDC, its mandate, composition and operations can be found by following the HIV/AIDS link on the on the Department of Health Website at www.doh.gov.za.
The focus of this article is on some of the lessons learned from the national IDC. It is written for the benefit of people involved in provincial IDCs or in other intersectoral coordination structures. These are some of the elements we believe contribute to the strength of the IDC:
Elected co-chair persons: Elected co-chairs widen the “ownership” of the IDC and result in greater identification of IDC members with their committee. Elected co-chairs also balance the power of the Department of Health, which, due to its technical expertise and resources, tends to dominate HIV/AIDS coordination structures. Two co-chairs are necessary as this position is time consuming and departmental IDC reps hold broad portfolios.
A Strong Secretariat: The Department of Health provides a well-resourced secretariat with good basic administration and proactive communication. This ensures that IDC decisions are implemented and that ‘the machine’ is running smoothly.
Supplementary Services And A One-Stop-Shop Mentality: The Department of Health Interdepartmental Support Programme and increasingly the Department of Public Service and Administration provide a range of supplementary services to the IDC and their member departments. These services include technical assistance for specific projects, training, provision of media and educational materials and consultancies. For the Department of Health and DPSA to provide such services through the IDC has the advantage of direct lines of communication. For the departments, the availability of services trough the IDC means they receive tangible benefits from their IDC membership.
Having An Operational Plan: The IDC conducts an annual review and planning workshop. The IDC operational plan has clear indicators and deliverables. The plan guides IDC actives throughout the year and also influences the planning process of the member departments.
Working Through Task Teams: To manage its ambitious plan the IDC relies on active participation of its members. Much IDC work is done by project-specific task teams: The IDC identifies a project or activity, mandates a task team to do all the preparation and as a full committee caries out the ‘final product’. This does not only reduce and share the workload; it also increases relevance of and participation in IDC projects.
A Culture Of Critical Self-Management And Advocacy: The IDC critically evaluated the work of its member departments and encourages other stakeholders to be critical with its operations. The IDC acknowledges challenges and beliefs that challenges are there to be overcome. Such an approach may be at times uncomfortable but enables departments to learn and to improve on their shortcomings.
(For more information please contact the IDC Secretariat: Tel: (012) 312 0051/ kniggn@health.gov.za or the Impact and Action Project: Tel: (012) 314 71 44 / ndivhuwo@dpsa.gov.za)
Course in the Management of Tuberculosis
Introduction
In the Southern African Tuberculosis Control Initiative (SATCI) TB Advocacy Report of 2000 it is said that the TB epidemic in South Africa ranks among the worst in the world, with reported Pulmonary TB cases for 1999 numbering 129 487, of which 84 857 patients were infectious. It is worsened by the TB/HIV co-infection rate of approximately 50%.
Who should enrol
All health care practitioners. The programme aims to assist health practitioners in the successful control of tuberculosis.
Course objectives
The course is aimed at providing medical practitioners with the appropriate skills to:
Workshop
The face-to-face tuition by leading national experts will take place over a 2-day period in the format of outcome-based workshops focusing on the practical integration of the knowledge acquired through the self-study guide. Workshops will avoid didactic approach and use case studies of real cases, role-playing and interactive methodology. Case studies will serve as a vehicle for the initial application of newly gained knowledge in a practice environment.
Certification
Successful participants will receive a Course Certificate should they attend the workshop and successfully complete the assessment process.
Accreditation
The course is in the process of accreditation for an estimated 22 CPD points through SAMA.
Cost
R228 per participant (VAT included)
The course fee includes all study material, assessment and certification.
The Tuberculosis Management Course is sponsored by the Department of Health through an educational grant from USAID.
Course dates
| Johannesburg: | 6-7 September 2003 |
| Durban: | 13-14 September 2003 |
| Pretoria: | 20-21 September 2003 |
| Cape Town: | 27-28 September 2003 |
| Johannesburg: | 4-5 October 2003 |
Venues
To be provided on registration.
Course coordinator
Francina Machoga
Foundation for Professional Development
PO Box 74789
0040 Lynnwood Ridge
Tel: (012) 481-2076 / 2038
Fax: (012) 481-2083
E-mail: francinam@samedical.org
Website: www.foundation.co.za
Important dates and meetings
Useful Websites
www.doh.gov.za
www.aidsinfo.co.za
www.aidsdirectory.co.za
www.dpp.org.za
www.hst.org.za
www.global-campaign.org (for news
on microbicides)
www.who.int/hiv
www.saavi.org.za
www.afroaidsinfo.org
www.lovelife.org.za
www.childaidsservices.org
www.equityproject.co.za
www.learnscapes.co.za
www.hivan.org.za
www.unaids.org
www.caprisa.org
You are also encouraged to share information on other useful websites. Feedback on the Department of Health website would be especially valuable.
Compiled by Celicia M Serenata
Project Manager: HIV/AIDS
Tel: (012) 312-0128
Fax: (012) 312-3122
E-mail: serenc@health.gov.za
Red Ribbon Resource Centre
For all requests of HIV/AIDS materials (posters etc.), please contact:
Tel: (011) 880-0405
Fax: (011) 880-8552
Address List for Chief Directorate
Fax: (012) 312-3122
Dr. Nono Simelela
Chief Director: HIV/AIDS and TB
Tel: (012) 312-0121
simeln@health.gov.za
Collen Bonnecwe
Director: HIV/AIDS (NGOs)
Tel: (012) 312-0137
bonnec@health.gov.za
Thami Skenjana
Director: GAAP
Tel: (012) 312-0133
Dr. Refiloe Matji
Director: TB
Tel: (012) 312-0106
matjir@health.gov.za
Dr. Rose Mulumba
Director: HIV/AIDS and STIs
Tel: (012) 312-0600
mulumr@health.gov.za
Ms. Celicia Serenata
Project Manager: HIV/AIDS
Tel: (012) 312-0128
serenc@health.gov.za