Social Work in SA!

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I interviewed two social workers and thought I'd share what I learned.

I first interviewed the social worker at the ART clinic here in Upington. She meets every patient infected with HIV before they start their ARV treatment. She is the only social worker at the clinic. I talked with her at 11am and she had already met with 4 newly infected patients. She said she meets about 10 new patients every single day (that's 50 a week!) She also meets with patients who are referred by nurses at the clinic. She starts with doing an assessment of each individual to find out their financial, food, and housing situations. She helps them apply to the Dept of Social Services for food if they need it (she must write a letter to the dept for each patient requesting food parcels). Primary Health Care if completely FREE in SA (it's a constitutional right). Since 2004 when the clinic opened there have been about 810 patients out on ARV's. This only includes those on treatment, not every person who has came into the clinic. In order to be put on ARV's you must disclose to one person so this prevents many people from going on the medications. The social workers told me that most people do adhere to their treatment though.


I also met with the social worker at Gordonia hospital. There are four social worker positions and only one is filled... 3 vacancies. So this one ladt has been doing all the work herself! She does not work only with those infected by HIV, she works with all kinds of patients, all different ages. She meets victims of rape, sexual abuse victims, helps place abandoned babies in safe homes, malnutrtion child cases, TB patients, and new mothers (among many other things). She meets with any person who is referred to her by a doctor or nurse. Though there are many to see she does not allow herself to see more than 8 patinets a day (equalling about 8 hours.. plus the paperworkshe has to do) because she likes to ensure that each patient is given the proper attention they deserve. She worked in the UK as a social workwer for 2 years so she was able to compare the UK systems to SA for me.

During my last week here I will be having people sign my Dab the AIDS bear as requested by Daddy Dab 😊 I bought a new marker today for people to use. A magazine may do a write up about it! I will have caregivers, patients, and the people I work with all sign it.

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Comments

[Daddy Dab]

Last Days
Krista, Sounds like you are getting a life's education during your stay there. Told you it would be life changing. So proud of all the work and good you are doing there. Wishing you safe and great times during your remaining days and a safe flight home to us. big bear hug, Daddy Dab

[Willie]

MY Hat off to the Social Worker
I pray her strength and appauld her deciation in all she does and thoses she serve. That a Girl to Krista for having the courage to go to SA to assist in making a diference in other lives.

[Shelby]

thats awesome :)