Info4AfricaInfo4Africa, a self-funded Centre of Excellence at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s College of Humanities is educating and linking South Africans to health care services.The organisation runs three core programmes, namely the national service finder database, SA Voices HIV Museum and multi-sectoral seminars.Debbie Heustice, director of Info4Africa, said many people don’t know where to turn when they need HIV and TB-related treatment, care and support.‘Our database enables all South Africans to be linked to care when they need it most,’ said Heustice.The museum, in central Durban, provides an educational space for engagement around HIV and TB. It is a vibrant, interactive space that encourages youth to make health-enabling life-choices,’ said Heustice.She said the seminars are free forums that provide critical briefing and opportunities for engagement by civil society, government and business on policy, research and implementation in HIV, TB, human rights and related areas of interest.
Centre for Civil SocietyThe Centre for Civil Society, established in 2001, promotes the study of the civil society sector as a legitimate and flourishing area of scholarly activity in South Africa.The Centre for Civil Society (CCS) aims to facilitate the work of local civil society organisations and provide platforms and spaces for local activists to develop their praxis, as well as to facilitate networking, campaigns and solidarity-building.The centre’s community scholar initiative, involves members of civil society organisations in Durban, allowing for exchanges between CCS academics and organisations, which include the Right2Know Campaign and Africa Solidarity Network.The centre runs a number of community participatory documentary training workshops. Their research areas include civil society, social movements, social protest, environmental justice, political economy and social justice philanthropy.The CCS is in need of funding to expand the Community Scholar initiative and to initiate a PhD Fellowship programme in the area of civil society.
Centre for Rural HealthThe University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Rural Health aims to improve rural health through research, capacity building and advocacy.The Centre’s range of programmes, include projects to support mental health, improving maternal and child health and nutrition and supporting human resources for health, that include the home stay project.Christiane Horwood, the Centre’s research manager, said they hope to build on recent achievements working with community health workers, particularly in the field of child nutrition.“We recently completed a proof of concept project to develop innovative approaches to skills development for health workers counselling mothers about HIV, ART adherence and infant feeding,” said Horwood.She said they would be starting a new project, funded by the World Health Organization, to investigate lived experiences of women in informal work during pregnancy and delivery, how they care for and feed their children.“This project urgently requires co-funding to enable us to do the full set of planned activities.” Words by Taschica Pillay
