 A Final Push to Rebuild Education in Swaziland
The 'Rebuilding Human Capital in Swaziland' project team presented their final report to the project steering committee on 19 March in Mbabane, Swaziland.
HEARD Film Addresses MDG Issues In April, HEARD's documentary Vukuzakhe - Arise and Build Yourself was screened at this year's Cineposible International Film Festival of Extremadura (Spain).
Young Researchers Writing Workshop a Success The Young Researchers Initiative - a HEARD project that aims to support young researchers from across southern and eastern Africa develop their research and publication skills - brought together 12 young researchers from across the region for a very successful workshop.
New HEARD Report on Legal Obligations Around Women's Reproductive Rights and HIV In 2010 the global community will review whether it has achieved Universal Access to Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support and its progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
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Newsletter Issue 4
June 2010 Traditional Healers Study: some preliminary findings
On 29 and 30 March, Gavin George and Khaled Ahmed conducted a survey with traditional healers (TH). The fieldwork was undertaken in a small town outside Kuruman in South Africa's vast arid province of the Northern Cape. THs have been identified as potential suppliers of primary health care and HIV/AIDS-related prevention and care services. This can be attributed to two forces:
THs are an untapped human resource - but are we rushing too quickly and overlooking potentially problematic areas? The survey explored TH's knowledge of HIV/AIDS - including transmission, progression and treatment, their management and treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), treatment fees and attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. The gathering of traditional healers during the two days was part of a yearly indaba organised by the Traditional Healers Organisation (THO), a Johannesburg-based association. The design of the survey was assisted by Professor Jeff Gow and the School of Psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The surveys were written in Setswana and English, and administered by the THO. In total, 186 THs were interviewed, with ages ranging from as young as 17 up to 76 years old. Abstracts based on the fieldwork have been submitted to the 3rd Wits/SABCOHA/HEARD HIV/AIDS in the Workplace & Beyond: Research in Action' Symposium.
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