The Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR) and the  Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa  (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town invite you to join us for a lunchtime seminar on 20 May 2025 at 12:45pm. The seminar will be presented by Dr. Lesley Gittings.

About the Seminar:

'We were in water season, now we are in fire season': Disaster-related experiences, challenges and response among HIV Community Health Workers in the Western Cape, South Africa

The frequency of disasters is increasing due to anthropogenic climate change and social and structural issues. Communities are often at the fore of disaster response, possessing important contextual expertise and experience. While community health workers (CHWs) are a cornerstone of primary healthcare and a bridge between communities, health and social services in South Africa, little is known about CHWs in disaster preparedness and response.

In this seminar, we report on emergent findings of a qualitative study, conducted in November-March 2024/2025 which examined the disaster-related experiences, challenges, and response strategies of CHWs. We engaged in-depth, semi-structured interviews (n=24) and participatory priority-setting and group discussions (n=2 groups, 21 CHWs) in urban Mitchell's Plain and rural/peri-urban Morreesburg with CHW organisation Kheth'Impilo.

Floods, droughts, fire, and the COVID-19 pandemic were frequently discussed disasters. CHWs also conceptualised 'everyday emergencies' as disasters, emphasizing how ongoing distress from issues of crime, drugs, and poverty may overshadow more conventional disasters such as floods or pandemics.

CHWs described challenges delivering HIV care during seasonal floods and fires, where property damage and displacement disrupt access to healthcare, essential medicines, and basic necessities. CHWs also discussed acting as 'the eyes' for their communities, creating linkages to essential resources, triaging client needs, and identifying adaptive resources to support continued healthcare.

While findings demonstrate that CHWs are actively engaged in immediate relief efforts, they do not participate in advance planning, underscoring the need for better forward-planning to ensure continuity of care.

Speakers

Lesley Gittings is an Assistant Professor at Western University (Canada) and an honorary Research Associate of the CSSR. Her research focuses on the social and environmental factors that shape health across the life course, using qualitative, participatory, and arts-based methods. She holds a Master's and PhD from the University of Cape Town.

 20 May 2025
 12:45 - 14:00 SAST
  CSSR Seminar Room, 4.29 Robert Leslie Social Science Building, UCT

Hosted by the Centre for Social Science Research and the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa