An assessment of the role of faith-based organisations in HIV/AIDS mitigation, treatment and care: The case of buddhist compassion relief in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Abstract

This study investigates the role of faith based organizations in HIV/AIDS mitigation, treatment and care. Using a qualitative methodology and with specific focus on Buddhist Compassion Relief (Tzu Chi Foundation), this study assesses the efficacy of HIV/AIDS intervention programmes run by the Tzu Chi Foundation (TCF) as well as their impact on the socio-economic and health wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It also analyses the challenges of such faith based organisation run public health community intervention programmes. The study finds that such interventions tremendously assist people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to access home based care in the absence of a well co-ordinated state intervention programme. Through the home based care programmes, PLWHA access more knowledge about how to live positively, safe sex practices to avoid re-infection and strategies of dealing with societal stigmatisation and social exclusion. Furthermore, PLWHA also receive nutritional food, are assisted in adhering to their prescribed ARV therapy and given physiotherapy sessions in an effort to elongate and enhance their quality of life. While there are the foregoing and many other benefits of home based care, the study however finds that such faith based organisation run public health interventions have a number of challenges which include inadequate funding, dubious development paradigm praxis, questionable sustainability thrust as well as organisational structures which do not reflect local population demographics.