Training

Programme Objectives 1. To improve the healthcare of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children through training and empowering of carers

Description

Bigshoes’ involvement in the children’s homes through the medical clinics made the paediatricians aware that many of the medical issues seen at the clinic could be prevented through training of the careworkers. The paediatricians began developing the course in 2004, offering workshops. In 2006 it became the 5-day course that is still offered on a monthly basis in 2011. 

The course includes CPR, first aid, hygiene, nutrition, managing childhood illnesses, childhood development and HIV/AIDS. The course’s development was developed in line with the causes of the under 5 years of age mortality rate in South Africa. 

The target group is orphaned and vulnerable children in children’s homes and community. The course was designed to address their needs are for increased medical care on a daily basis Training empowers the careworkers involved in the care.

These goals are addressed through the following activities:

• Training of Child & Youth Care Workers (CYCW) working in residential care and in community projects in basic child health, TB and HIV
• Run additional training workshops to address issues such as HIV and TB prevention, stigma, discrimination and disclosure

Impact

Bigshoes has trained careworkers from over 50 children’s homes and over 100 community projects countrywide. This training has supported the amazing work being done to improve the lives of vulnerable children in South Africa. Since the beginning of the training over 2 000 careworkers have received training and with an estimate 20 000 children receiving improved medical care. Children’s Homes managers have reported that there is an increase in knowledge and skills of their staff after the training. This knowledge is relevant to the day to day running and health needs of the homes.

Statistics from children’s home records pre and post training:

• Decrease in the number of hospitalisations
• Decreased number of visits to the casualty
• Cases of gastroenteritis, chest infections and malnutrition are identified and treated well
• RTHC/B up to date
• Mortality rate decreases overall
• Increase in the number of HIV tests and higher compliance with ARV’s

Download the Training Calendar.