Planning, access to water and HIV/AIDS driven health challenges in Ivory Park, ward 77
Date
2010-03-30T07:33:17Z
Authors
Siphumeze, Mndze
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Abstract
Apartheid planning led to the unequal distribution of social services in South African
communities. This happened since apartheid planning delivered social services on the
basis of colour. In this process, the white communities got proper delivery of social
services while the black communities got very limited or no delivery of social
services. In doing this, the apartheid planning hindered access to water in many areas
of South Africa (S.A) especially in informal settlements such as those of Ivory Park,
Soweto and Alexandra. Blacks who tend to be unemployed with very low levels of
education, training and skills dominate these areas. Constitutionally, black people are
made up of Africans, Coloureds and Indians. In addition, blacks who reside in
informal settlements tend to be poverty stricken. The lack of reliable access to water
in Ivory Park, ward 77 which is the focus of this report is accompanied by high rate of
Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(HIV/AIDS) that comes with health challenges.
The HIV/AIDS driven health challenges are manifested by excessive periods of
diarrhoea, repeated release of faeces, HIV/AIDS infected body fluids including urine
that contaminate the beds, linen and clothes of the HIV/AIDS patients to mention just
few examples. In the initiative that aims to respond to the HIV/AIDS driven health
challenges, the communities formed HIV/AIDS based care giving institutions which
are normally run by the HIV/AIDS based caregivers. The HIV/AIDS based care
giving institutions counter HIV/AIDS driven health challenges by the use of water.
That means, without access to water, the HIV/AIDS based care giving cannot be
undertaken in an effective manner. Ivory Park, ward 77 has poor access to water, and
the informal settlement has a high rate of HIV/AIDS.
This report shows the role that can be played by access to water in dealing with health
challenges that are driven by HIV/AIDS in Ivory Park, ward 77. It does that by
revealing the challenges of access to water and the correlation between water and
HIV/AIDS. In showing the role of water in dealing with HIV/AIDS driven
challenges, this research report acknowledges that water cannot cure HIV/AIDS. It
also accepts the fact that the Antiretroviral drugs, nutritious food and proper medical
care should accompany access to water to provide a comprehensive care and support
to the HIV/AIDS patients. This research report dwells on access to water in the
context of dealing with health challenges that are posed by the epidemic. It strongly
contends that quantity and quality of water are of paramount importance in the efforts
that aim at providing an effective HIV/AIDS based care giving. In arguing on access
to water and HIV/AIDS based care giving, the Communicative Theory which calls
for a dialogue guides the facts and issues that are documented in this report. In
applying the Communicative Theory, this report argues that HIV/AIDS based
caregivers should be included in the decision making that has to do with planning the
delivery of water. This is done with the application of the perspectives that are
borrowed from Advocacy Theory.