Nkomazi Local Municipality 20 - Co-operative Governance and ...

The Municipality recognized by COGTA, SALGA and Ehlanzeni District Municipalities to have the best HIV/AIDSprogramme and also recommended to assist other Municipalities in establishing fully fledged AIDS Council.StrengthThe Municipality has a committed political and Administrative leadership who fully support HIV/AIDS programmes,always visible and champion the programmes, advocate for the needs of communities, and make provision for the budget.AIDS Council has 98% committed members.Challenges The increasing HIV/AIDS prevalence is a threat to the community of Nkomazi and to Government.Insufficient budget to respond to the needs/problems of the Community of Nkomazi.Shortage of personnel remains a challenge.Nkomazi still have communities that do not have clinics, therefore HIV Counseling and testing remains a challenge tothese communities, such communities still travel more than 10km to access treatment and chances of defaultingtreatment are 99% due to transport un affordability and failure to cope with travelled long distances on foot.Defaulter rate of clients on ARV is increasing because a majority of patients are living below the poverty line and access togood nutritious food is a challenge.Lack of Funding for Home Based Care Organizations is still a challenge.Increasing number of Orphans and Vulnerable children who do not have birth certificates because their parents are illegalimmigrants, therefore unavailability of necessary documents as per the requirements of home affairs remains a challenge.Child headed families who need housing, food, school uniform increases daily.HIV/AIDS strategy not approved by Council because it needs to be aligned with the (PSP & NSP) Provincial Strategic planand National Strategic Plan to integrate TB. Nkomazi HIV/AIDS Strategy in the future will be HIV/AIDS and TB strategicplan.Future plans Establish a place of safety that will take care of HIV positive clients who are discharged from hospital for home care(still sick, unable to feed or bath themselves) and do not have people to look after them at home.Establish 24hr Voluntary counseling and Testing Centre.Establish a place of safety for children (Orphans and Vulnerable children.Establish food on wheels programme that will help clients who are taking ARVs but do not have food and they areunemployed.GoalsTo reduce HIV/AIDS new infections through intensive educational programmes focusing on behavior change, promotion ofconsistent condom usage, interdenominal programmes, through an integrated service delivery mechanism.To ensure that all clients who test HIV positive are encouraged for positive living and those eligible for treatment (ARVs)access all Primary Heath Care and social support.To provide social support services for all Orphans in Nkomazi through provision and advocating for foster care services andongoing counseling.NKLM Integrated Development Plan 2012_2013 74