Training and development forms the backbone of the HIV prevention programme and is coordinated by the Training Coordinator in the HIV Management Structure.

The DOD HIV Training Programme ensures that health care personnel and other members involved in HIV management acquire certain skills in order to deliver effective and standardised prevention and care, and acts as an HIV prevention initiative in itself through the education of professional peers.

In addition the programme makes provision for formal peer group education of all members and employees of the Department. The training will also be integrated into all developmental courses to ensure continuous structured education throughout the organisation.

The DOD HIV Training Programme was developed in 1999 by the HIV Training Sub-committee and has the following objectives:

• The establishment of regional HIV ‘consultants’ (Master Trainers) in the medical and psychosocial environment (at least two members per region) that can act as:
  • Advisors to regional Officers Commanding and HIV programme managers on HIV related management and prevention issues.
  • Points of referral for medical and psychosocial problems that cannot be solved at local military health facilities.
  • Peer educators to medical and psychosocial professional personnel.
  • Trainer s of trainers (HIV Educational Officers).
• The establishment of regional HIV Educational Officers in the psychosocial environment that can act as:
  • Advisors to appointed unit HIV Workplace Programme Managers on the establishment of HIV Workplace Programmes and provide general support to such programmes.
  • Points of referral for members who require additional information/counselling following intervention by HIV Peer Group Educators.
  • Educators for all health care personnel on issues such as pre- and post-test counselling, Voluntary Testing and Counselling, occupational exposure and general HIV prevention.
  • Trainers of appointed HIV Workplace Programme Managers to establish HIV Workplace Programmes and assist in the training of HIV Peer Group Educators.
• The education of all SAMHS health care personnel to ensure:
  • Standardised HIV counselling throughout the organisation.
  • Enhanced VCT services.
  • Coordinated and standardised treatment of members and dependants infected and affected by HIV.
  • Standardised occupational exposure management.
• The training of appointed HIV Workplace Programme Managers (one per workplace) that can:
  • Initiate and sustain Workplace HIV Programmes.
  • Train and coordinate Peer Group Educators.
  • Provide advice and initiate interventions with regard to prevention of occupational exposure in the workplace.
• The training of Peer Group Educators (one per 100 members) that will provide:
  • HIV Peer Group Education.
  • Support to HIV workplace programmes.
  • A referral mechanism from grass roots level to HIV Educational Officers where peer education initiatives identifies the need for further follow-up and counselling.

The training programme is developed and updated by the Research and Development Coordinator to ensure that the impact of all training provided can be measured. In addition, all training programmes have specific evaluation measures that measure the effectiveness of the programme.

It is important to mention that the HIV Training Programme as being implemented in the SANDF has been discussed with our sectoral partners (the Police Service and the Correctional Service) and has been approved for duplication in their respective organisations. The HIV Training Programme will therefore be approached as a joint venture between the three uniformed organisations.