Population HIV /AIDS training for Government Planners

Answer:

No, this course is developed to complement existing HIV/AIDS courses, specifically focussing on planning for the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on government policies, programmes and services.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is threatening human existence world-wide.  Notwithstanding the limitations of existing data on HIV/AIDS, the severity of the impact of the pandemic is indisputable.  The trends derived from population projections that take HIV/AIDS into account confirm that, within a decade, the South African society will be structured significantly different from what was known thus far.  HIV/AIDS will have a dramatic impact on the age-sex structure and life expectancy of the population.  There will be a decline in the number of people in the age groups 0 ? 4 year-olds and 25   34 year-olds.  Due to deaths occurring among young adults, young children and infants a large number of years of life will be lost.  This will have unprecedented social and economic implications.

HIV/AIDS hence poses a tremendous challenge to decision makers, planners and managers in developing and implementing appropriate and cost effective programmes, policies and services that cuts across all sectors of integrated sustainable development. An examination of planned services indicated that many planning processes were not taking account of the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Therefore a collaborated effort in partnership with all relevant partners is needed to combat the epidemic and improve the quality of life of all South Africans.

Following the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS, it was decided that population and development capacity building should focus on the impact that the HIV/AIDS epidemic will have on service delivery as HIV/AIDS will have a significant impact on government service delivery and development planning.

Answer:

The Department of Health is one of the collaborating partners who were involved in the development of this Course Project. The HIV/AIDS/STD Strategic Plan for South Africa, 2000 ? 2005 (February 2000), as developed by Department of Health, is part of the key framework within which the course id developed.

Answer:

In terms of the Population Policy for South Africa (April 1998) the Chief Directorate Population and Development, situated in the Department of Social Development, is responsible for increasing capacity and developing human resources to integrate population trends into development planning.

The key framework and policies that direct this course initiative are:

• HIV/AIDS/STD Strategic Plan for South Africa, 2000 ? 2005 (February 2000)
• Population Policy for South Africa (April 1998) and
• Integrated Development Planning (IDP).
  

Answer:

This course was developed by the Department of Social Development in collaboration with Department of Health, Department of Public Service and Administration, Department of Provincial and Local Government, South African Local Government Association (SALGA), South African Management Development Institute (SAMDI), all South African universities and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Through this partnership it was ensured that the development of this course complemented existing courses addressing HIV/AIDS, specifically the HIV/AIDS Course developed for Local Government Councillors, with advocacy as its specific focus.  Rose Smart acted as HIV/AIDS consultant to both courses.

Answer:

The course is designed and intended for government planners, encompassing especially decision-makers and managers.  Participants from National and Provincial spheres of government will, in main, have planning responsibilities in areas of policy analysis, departmental strategy, and / or monitoring, while participants from Local Government will have responsibilities regarding town and regional planning, and / or integrated development planning (IDP).

Answer:

It is a basic course on planning for the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on service delivery as indicated in its name, i.e.  Planning in the New Millennium - A Primary HIV/AIDS Capacity Development Course for Government Planners.  This course will lay the foundation to understand the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to operationalise that understanding in the work environment.  Through five modules the course provides a basic understanding of:

• HIV/AIDS
• Population, development and HIV/AIDS
• The Impact of HIV/AIDS
• The statutory environment regarding HIV/AIDS ? policies, laws, regulations and rights
• Tools, assessments and integrated planning.

 

Answer:

The aim of the Course is three dimensional, namely:  

• To lay the foundation for decision makers and planners to understand the impact of the epidemic;
• To operationalise that understanding in their work environment; and
• To build individual and institutional capacity that would enhance planning for workplace and service delivery.

 

The Course Objectives are:

• To create an awareness of how the HIV/AIDS epidemic will impact on policies, programmes and services.
• To develop basic methodological skills related to interpreting data and projections, as well as understanding and utilising models.
• To enable government planners to further pursue sectoral specialisation of the rudimentary skills obtained at the course.

Answer:

It is not possible to become an expert on the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic within a week, i.e. the duration of the course. However, after participants have attended the course a foundation would have been laid for every participant to understand the impact of the epidemic and to operationalise the understanding in his or her working environment. The course aimed to build individual and institutional capacity that would enhance planning for the workplace and service delivery.

Answer:

Yes, participants do receive a certificate of attendance on completion of the course.  Currently it does not bear any academic recognition although academic institutions present the course. However, participating academic institutions are encouraged to develop ownership of the course through, for example, incorporating the course into existing academic programmes.

Answer:

Currently the Department of Social Development is investigating various possibilities in order to sustain and enhance this Course Project.