his qualification is intended for lay counsellors and Community Health Care Workers who will educate and counsel communities about the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Its purpose is to equip qualifying learners with:
Knowledge and understanding of the communities within which those living with life-threatening conditions such as HIV/AIDS find themselves confined and the ability to communicate with all members of these communities.
Knowledge and understanding of the processes of adult learning and the ability to successfully communicate new information so that a change in behaviour is brought about.
Knowledge of human behaviour and the ability to provide a means to achieve emotional and physical support for those in distress.
Knowledge and understanding of the principles of personal and community sanitation and the ability to initiate improvements in this area.
Knowledge and understanding of the cause and effect of life threatening conditions especially HIV and AIDS.
The
skills to work as a team member and as a provider of support services within a
multidisciplinary health care team
This Qualification is for any individual who is, or wishes to be, involved in ancillary health care services. A learner who has achieved this qualification will practice the roles of health promoter, health provider and health networker within a community development context. His/her skills will be utilised by local NGOs dealing home-based care, palliative care and nursing of terminally patients and in clinical sites that are managed by the Department of Health in the implementation of the primary healthcare re-engineering programme. Learners who complete this qualification will have better self and social awareness and will possess a range of thinking and problem solving skills. In addition, they will possess the competence required to perform community health functions in a complex developing world context. They will have the skills required for employment by a range of government and social sector employers, will be in possession of a further education and training certificate and will be eligible for certain credit recognition in various higher education health qualifications.