22 home-based care givers from uMtshezi Municipality have graduated from their first pilot programme, which took place at the Estcourt Town Hall recently.
This project is sponsored by the Office of the KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu under Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS). The uThukela Social Development District Co-ordinator, Xolani Zondo says the training of home-based care workers is aimed at standardising work to avoid duplication in the communities. Mr Zondo said it is their wish to see all departments coming together with OSS to fight social ills within the communities.
He added that the home-based care workers are hired by the Social Welfare and Health departments, paid a monthly stipend. Females dominated this program and only one man took part in the training. HIV/Aids Co-ordinator, Freeman Mpembe said they have already trained 18 home-based care workers throughout the nine wards of Umtshezi Municipality.