Home-based Care

HOME-BASED CARE (HBC) in the Fimpulu area is a project that Choshen Farm adopted in late 2009. The term Home Based Care is an internationally recognized term referring to at-home, palliative care for people living with HIV/AIDS, TB, and other chronic illnesses.

HBC in Fimpulu is a community-based organization comprising 18 caregivers and over 100 clients as of year-end 2010. The caregivers are community volunteers who have dedicated themselves to serving their clients by learning and teaching about HIV/AIDS, nutrition, personal hygiene, disease progression, treatment options, stigma, and positive living. Our clients are those who have tested positive for HIV, TB, or are suffering from another chronic illness.

The role of Choshen Farm in working with HBC is multifaceted. We provide administrative and logistical support such as compiling data, computing statistics, and creating other improved information systems. We also organize transportation for those needing medicines and doctors visits. We coordinate with the local clinic to take blood samples to the lab in Mansa, for the purpose of tracking each client’s immunity levels. We provide educational support by providing on-going training for caregivers who then disseminate that information to each client. We also provide material and nutritional support to our clients by way of fresh produce, protein-rich eggs and soy, and health-promoting items such as soap and condoms.

Every two weeks, the caregivers meet together for lessons, planning, administrative purposes, and distribution of 12 eggs, 3 HEPS (High Energy Protein Solution) packets, a variety of vegetables and the household items on hand for that period.

One of the main purposes of the farm component of Choshen Farm is to supply HBC with the necessary food stuffs to help clients stay encouraged and healthy as they battle these life-threatening diseases. Our desire is to see each client in a self-sustaining pattern of healthy living by establishing support groups to promote small scale farming efforts and other income generating activities, empowering the clients to promote their own health and well-being.