GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Camdeboo Hospice has recently implemented an HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) programme.
This programme is funded by KFW German Co-operation and run in South Africa by the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) and the implementing partner KI (Kheth'Impilo)
Camdeboo Hospice is contracted by FPD to provide HIV testing services in the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality. The towns which will be included in this service are Aberdeen, Adendorp, Graaff-Reinet, Jansenville, Kendrew, Klipplaat, Nieu Bethesda, Rietbron, Steytlerville, Waterford and Willowmore – an area of 28 653 km² with an estimated population of 82 197.
Hospice's fully-trained team responsible for this program consists on the medical side of the HIV testing services supervisor, Intermediate Life Support Paramedic Wendy Mathie, and three counsellor/testers, Sandra Vers-Maarman, Edith Joseph and Charles Jafta. The team also includes data capturer Sanna Hendriks and part-time admin lady Juline Lewies. These seven work under the oversight of the Head of Nursing Services, Professional Nurse Loretta Wiehahn.
They will be making every effort to reach all residents in these towns to encourage them to be tested for communicable and non-communicable illnesses such as HIV, TB, diabetes and high blood pressure. On-site testing and counselling is provided and, if anyone tests positive, immediate referrals are made to their nearest public healthcare facility.
The team is very excited and grateful for the backpacks and equipment recently received from FPD and KI as they are now fully equipped to go out into the communities and make a difference in the vast area assigned to them. The backpacks are multi-functional as they are insulated in order to keep the testing sera at the correct temperature, and they can also be used as small stools for the counsellors to sit on when they are doing community outreaches.
Hospice is now striving to raise funds in order to invest in a bigger, more appropriate vehicle for the team to use. They have a great deal of equipment which they will need to take with them when they do community awareness campaigns, especially in the outlying towns.
The five team members are shown in the photo, plus their equipment (some of which includes fold-up chairs and tables) are currently squashing into the small bakkie. They can manage with this for local outreaches but unfortunately, they have not been able to travel to the outlying towns yet because of the unsafe and impractical mode of transport.
Although Hospice has just received funds from the very successful Hike and Hobble event, these funds have been earmarked for pressing patient care costs. The ongoing income- generating projects such as the cake, book, jumble and honey sales all contribute towards general running costs which are vital to allow the organisation to continue to provide free patient care.
Iqraa Trust in Durban has responded to the request for funding for a vehicle by donating R150 000 towards this cost. Because they stipulate that these funds must be utilised by the end of July, Hospice is desperately trying to find a balance of about R98 000 to buy a small bus or twin cab bakkie.
If anyone or any business would like to contribute towards this dire need, they can contact the manager, Susan van der Linde, to find out how to go about making a deposit.
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