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Article 27 of the SADC protocol on gender and development brought a somewhat glimmer of hope that the great work of care-givers will be recognised by signatories, which Swaziland forms part of.
The article categorically declares that Member States should “Develop and implement policies and programmes to ensure appropriate recognition of the work carried out by care-givers, the majority of whom are women, the allocation of resources and the psychological support for care-givers as well as promote the involvement of men in the care and support of people living with HIV and AIDS.” The protocol was signed in 2008. Sadly, little or nothing has been done in the country to address the plight of care-givers.
In the recent workshops held by Gender Links Swaziland, caregivers who were mainly women told of the formidable challenges they face on a daily basis. It shows that authorities are doing nothing to remedy the situation of care workers in Swaziland. In fact, their plight has retrogressed steadily unabated.
Amongst the litany of issues encountered by caregivers is the lack of support from government. Despite the enormous tasks performed by caregivers, their work remains unrecognised. The government does not give support to caregivers in the form of stipends – let alone material support. Caregiversoften only get assistance from already struggling Non-Governmental Organisations. Owing to dwindling donor aid, the NGOs in turn cannot fully support the caregivers. This has worsened the challenges of caregivers.
For example, some caregivers look after people living with HIV and AIDS without gloves or any other protective clothing. This further exposes caregivers to the contraction of HIV. Often caregivers use their own money to buy food for their patients so that they can have strength to collect their treatment.
Caregivers are subjected to mental trauma owing to the worst scenarios they face in executing their work. Yet there is still little to no psychosocial support given to them. The lack of this fundamental support normally leaves a permanent depression in the minds of the care givers. It is a lifetime trauma which eventually affects them terribly and thwarts their effectiveness in doing their job. This is confirmed by research done by the Gender and Media Southern Africa Network in 2009 on care-work policies in SADC which led to the development of a policy handbook – Making Care Work Count.
Worse still the government and legislators have been silent about the issue of care-givers. It is indeed disturbing because the target has to be met by 2015. Four years have elapsed and three years remain. Not much has moved. Unless the government and stakeholders take the plight of care-givers with the seriousness the matter deserves, it is likely that the situation will remain as is until 2015.
0 thoughts on “Swaziland: Challenges faced by care workers”
Thank you so much for this post! I suffer from dproessien and anxiety and I sometimes get in denial about it hate that I really do need help. I’m going to check out the NAMI and their resources. It’s especially difficult for me to seek help now that I don’t have health insurance, but I need to stop just thinking it will just go away on it’s own one day.
O