A SWOT (strenghts, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis on the use of focal persons as a mainstreaming strategy in combating HIV and AIDS in the public service of Namibia

Date
2008-03
Authors
Vatuva, Sircca Nelao Nangula
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main objective of the study was to analyse the current situation with regard to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats relating to the use of focal persons as one of the strategies used in HIV and Aids mainstreaming strategy in combating HIV and Aids in the Public Service of Namibia. Quantitative data was collected from questionnaires while the interview technique was used to collect qualitative data. A purposive sampling method was used to select 28 focal persons in the Public Service of Namibia for the questionnaires and out of 28 focal persons; seven were randomly selected for the interviews. Among findings in the study, seven of the respondents were nominated by their respective offices, ministries and agencies to serve as focal persons; five as chairpersons and focal persons at the same time. Out of 22 respondents, eighteen attained tertiary educational qualifications while four attained secondary educational qualifications only. Eleven of the respondents were nominated to serve; two applied; three volunteered to serve; and six were either acting or were not officially nominated to serve in HIV and Aids positions. In addition to their official positions, thirteen focal persons were assigned additional duties or activities relating to the coordination of HIV and AIDS mainstreaming programme, making it more difficult to carry out such activities. The study also found that eleven of the respondents had good support and commitment from their management; however nine indicated that they had no specific budget line for combating HIV and Aids in their offices, ministries and agencies. The study concludes that attributes such as the level of educational qualifications, knowledge and experience in HIV and Aids matter. However job grading, type of appointment and unavailability of time to coordinate HIV and Aids mainstreaming programmes are weakening the strategy. Furthermore, the study concluded that external attributes to focal persons such as access to educational opportunities, high grading of chairpersons of ministerial HIV and Aids committees, availability of terms of reference, management interest in HIV and Aids programmes, focal persons’ access to management, physical facilities and HIV and Aids related information can be of great help the focal persons in coordinating HIV and Aids programmes effectively. Moreover, the study concluded that poor management involvement in HIV and Aids programmes and poor involvement of focal persons in budget formulation, focal persons’ inaccessibility to financial resources are threatening the use of focal persons in the Public Service of Namibia. The study recommends that gender balance amongst HIV and Aids focal persons in the Public Service of Namibia should be considered in all offices, ministries and agencies. Adequate funding of HIV and Aids programmes, ongoing commitment from leadership, upgrading of the position of focal persons were also recommended to ensure effective coordination of the mainstreaming strategy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel van die studie was om die huidige situasie te ontleed met betrekking tot die sterkpunte, swakpunte, geleenthede en bedreigings rakende die gebruik van fokuspersone, as strategiese middel om MIV en Vigs in die Openbare Dienste van Namibië te bekamp. Inhoudsdata was bekom deur vooraf voltooide vraelyste terwyl kwaliteitsinligting deur onderhoudsvoering ingesamel is. ‘n Doelbewuste toets-metode is gebruik waarin agt-en-twintig fokuspersone in die Openbare Dienste van Namibië vir die vooropgestelde vraelyste gekies is en hieruit is sewe gekies vir inderhoude. Van die bevindinge was dat sewe van die gekose respondente nominasies deur hul plaaslike kantore, ministeries en agentskappe gedoen is waarvan vyf persone as beide voorsitters en fokuspersone moes optree. Van die gekose twee-en-twintig respondente was agttien in besit van tersiëre kwalifikasies en vier het slegs sekondêre opleiding gehad. Elf van die respondente was genomineer om te dien, twee om aan te bied, drie om vrywillige diens te lewer en ses was óf deeltyds óf nie amptelik genomineer om op die MIV en Vigs komitee te dien. Behalwe hul amptelike posisies, is van dertien van hierdie persone verwag om bykomende diens en aktiwiteite ten opsigte van die ko-ordinasie van die MIV en Vigs hoofstroom programme te behartig wat dit moeiliker gemaak het om sodanige aktiwiteite uit te voer. Die studie het ook gevind dat elf van die respondente bystand van hul beheerliggame gehad het hoewel nege aangedui het dat hulle nie spesifieke finansiële bystand gekry het om MIV en Vigs in hul kantore, ministeries en agentskappe te bekamp nie. Die studie het bevind dat akademiese opleiding, ondervinding en kennis in die veld van MIV en Vigs belangrik is. Daar is ook gevind dat werkgradering, klassifisering van aanstellings en veral die tekort aan tyd daartoe bydgedra het tot die verswakking van die program. Dis ook bevind dat eksterne voordele soos toegang tot akademiese opleidingsgeleenthede, hoë gradering van voorsitters in ministeriële komitees aangaande MIV en Vigs, beskikbaarheid in terme van naslaanwerk, belangstelling van beheerliggame, fisiese fasiliteite en inligting beskikbaar oor MIV en Vigs programme tot groot hulp kan wees vir die ko-ordinering daarvan. Dis ook bevind dat swak betrokkenheid van beheerliggame in die MIV en Vigs programme en swak betrokkenheid in die opstelling van fondse vir hulpmiddele deur fokuspersone, ontoeganklikheid tot finansiële fasiliteite die betrokkenheid van die fokuspersoon bedreig in die Openbare Dienste van Namibië. Een van die voorstelle is dat die geslagsbalans in die kies van MIV en Vigs fokus persone in die Openbare Dienste van Namibië in alle kantore, ministeries en agentskappe hersien word. Genoegsame fondse vir MIV en Vigs programme, volkome oorgawe en samewerking van leierskap en opgradering van fokuspersone se posisies word ook aanbeveel om sodoende effektiewe ko-ordinasie van hoofstroom aktiwiteite te verseker.
Description
Thesis (MPhil) -- Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Keywords
HIV infections -- Namibia. -- Prevention, AIDS (Disease) -- Namibia -- Prevention, Preventive health services -- Namibia, Civil service -- Namibia, Namibia -- Officials and employees -- Health and hygiene, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- Industrial psychology
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