HIVSA certified training for counsellors
Projects Info
Project manager: Steven Whiting
Tel: +27 11 494 1900
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Anova offers ongoing training and professional development to staff and partners. This training encompasses on-the-job mentoring as well as support for off-site skills development. Training and skills transfer is the essential platform for Anova-supported work to be sustainable.
Two key areas in which Anova has been able to offer particular support in the previous year have been HCT and the training of nurses in initiating and managing ART.
Counsellors form the backbone of HIV services in South Africa. HIVSA and Anova have worked together to ensure that counsellors now have a career path. With support from Anova, HIVSA has developed a certified training course for counsellors.
While counselling can be perceived as a “nice to have” or “soft” skill, its importance in prevention and treatment of HIV cannot be overstated. The South African government and NGO partners have taken the lead in encouraging the sexually-active population to know their status as part of basic healthcare. This is fundamental to living well - whether HIV positive or negative - as well as to ensuring early treatment if necessary. It also contributes to diminishing stigma in society at large.
Counsellors are generally paid a stipend by government via NGOs. HIVSA began implementing training for counsellors in February 2010 under the health and welfare training authority (HWSETA). Accredited training is key in recognising the importance of counsellors, as well as empowering counsellors in their professional development. It is an NQF Level 4 qualification with 140 credits.
The training is comprehensive and covers topics including: understanding HIV and AIDS; epidemiology; the life cycle of the virus; stages of infection and progression; signs and symptoms; transmission and prevention; early diagnosis and testing; treatment and side effects; PMTCT; TB; STIs; opportunistic infections; nutrition; and sources of support. The course also covers ARVs, including how they work, different types of ARVs, available regimens, side effects, post exposure prophylaxis and ARVs and children.
The learners are counsellors who are employed by the Department of Health and PEPFAR partners including Right to Care, RHRU, PHRU and Anova. They are placed at VCT, PMTCT and ARV sites. Only learners working as counsellors are selected for the qualification. HIVSA initially planned to train 200 counsellors, but the programme was in such high demand they had to make room for another 49 learners. This is a clear indication of the need for training counsellors in the field of HIV.HIVSA trained 330 counsellors, and provided Further Education Training (FET) certificates to 251 individuals in counselling.
Training: A counsellor’s story
“I became interested in counselling after my friend Thoko died in my arms. She was always alone, she had no family. I also had my problems and so we would see each other at the shop and became like friends.
“I started volunteering and went on a course. I found myself passionate about the work, even though the money is not there. After my first course I wanted to do more. My first patient I counselled was HIV-positive and I thought: 'But what now?’ I didn’t know how to offer further support. (After doing the course) it is much better because we have mentors.
“Not getting our stipend ... it’s kind of soul-destroying. I feel I am letting everybody down. If the money comes, it is after months have passed. We call it ‘window period’ money. The VCTs of the Department of Health - we are all angry.
“With this qualification I have grown. Something has changed in me. I feel I can reach my clients and they come back for follow-ups. (The course) has broadened my mind. I can counsel anybody. It helps a lot being taught by experienced socialworkers and the trainers here.
“Things have changed over the years and now we see VCT self-referrals all the time. We are pioneers. If the departments don’t see us as important, and I’m offered something in the private sector, I’m gone. I’m just worried about my clients.”
