Claude Kasonka

Exploring Community Perceptions of Volunteer Hiv Counsellors / Testers: a Case of Chongwe District in Rural Zambia Claude Kasonka

Community volunteers have long been known to provide essential health services to people. This remarkable contribution has been applauded by World Health Organization in what has come to be known as Task Shifting, a practice of shifting tasks from nurses and doctors to volunteers. Critical shortage of nurses and doctors, coupled with the scourge of HIV/AIDS has led to developing countries to come up with strategies to continue providing health services to the people. Zambia, like in any country in Sub-Saharan Africa is affected by this critical shortage of health care workers, particularly in rural areas. This book brings to the fore acceptability of these volunteers by the recipients of health care - the community members themselves. It takes HIV/AIDS as centre stage, but also recognizes the role that volunteers can play in development through health.