The Sakhelwe Trust

The Sakhelwe Trust

The Sakhelwe Trust Newsletter, No.9 - September 2009
The Hospice

Thanks to your valuable contributions, the Trust continues to support FAMSA:NM in Mpumalanga in striving to tackle the ever increasing challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. FAMSA:NM is working in five townships in the Emakhazeni district amongst over 55,000 people. Education, promoting awareness and training continue to be the chief weapons in this campaign. The local communities that FAMSA serves from Sakhelwe have now the highest HIV+ statistics in the province, affecting 45% of the population. It is still the case that only a very small minority of those infected have access to anti-retroviral drugs, a situation compounded by the acute shortage of doctors, nurses and social workers.

The children

In a deteriorating economic situation, one result is an increasing of orphans and vulnerable children in need of care and support. FAMSA now has over 1,000 on its books, and this compares with 350 in October 2006. The number continues to grow. Helping these children is becoming an increasing part of the agenda, and this is undertaken by a supervised network of volunteers from each Emakhazeni community – an initiative that has now been in operation for three years with support from the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund.

Although not yet receiving patients, the hospice building continues to be used as a training centre and for counselling. Being adjacent to Siyifunile High School, it is providing a centre where the orphans and other vulnerable children can come on their way home from school, try on clothing both given locally and also including jumpers (pictured) knitted by a 90 year-old lady in Essex and receive assistance from FAMSA-trained social auxiliary workers. Over the last few months a number of children’s parties have been organised for them, with a “bouncy castle”, chocolate cake and other delights.

The Children

The terminally ill

Meanwhile, terminally ill patients, too weak to reach a clinic, die unattended. With your help, the hospice in Sakhelwe was planned and built to meet this need. We are hoping that now all services have been installed, the process can be expedited. The best that is being done at present is the support for the established home-based care teams. Training is being provided for five home-based care groups and they will form a vital part of the development team for the hospice.

Progress is being made towards the full use of the hospice. A pre-requisite is its registration with the provincial health authorities and, partly to this end, a separate and independent Sakhelwe Hospice Management Board is being set up with the involvement of community leaders. As the appointed Primary Health Care Facilities chairperson of the Sakhelwe Clinic, FAMSA’s Director, Sue Solesbury, has established links with other provincial clinics and hospitals. An objective is to establish a formal relationship with the hospital in Belfast, 30km to the west, which has only 12 beds and is thus unable to provide palliative care. Meanwhile beds, donated by a Nelspruit hospital, have now arrived.

Because of the acute shortage of nurses, the need to staff the hospice and attract them to live in Sakhelwe, consideration is currently being given to erecting a smaller building adjacent to the hospice. This would have a dual purpose in providing accommodation for a nurse and separate facilities for orphans away from the sick. This will, of course be dependent on obtaining funding.

In her latest Annual Report, just published, Sue Solesbury says: “Our work has been made possible by the wonderful support we have received from the Sakhelwe Trust in the UK, churches, family and friends both in England, Australia, Colombia and South Africa, our churches in the Mpumalanga Province and the ongoing generosity and care of our local Dullstroom and Sakhelwe residents and businesses.”

Donations may be sent to the Honorary Treasurer of the Sakhelwe Trust, Graham Symes, at 12 Chiltern Close, Staines, TW18 2BU, or visit our website at www.sakhelwe.org.uk.