OWING to the financial constraints of the Camdeboo Hospice, only patients in Graaff-Reinet will receive services as from the beginning of October.
Hospice provides invaluable palliative care and support to patients suffering from HIV/Aids, TB and cancer, but over 40 patients in Aberdeen, Jansenville and Klipplaat will no longer be able to get any support from the organisation.
Funding previously came from the Eastern Cape Department of Health (DOH), the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD), and the National Lottery Commission (NLC).
However, as these funding periods end, Hospice has been unable to secure sufficient funding to keep their full operations going, according to manager Susan van der Linde.
The contracts for the home-based carers came to an end on Monday, at the end of September.
The three carers in the outlying areas are now without jobs, and only two of the nine carers operating in Graaff-Reinet will be re-employed on a part-time basis.
These appointments will be made this week.
“The different areas in Graaff-Reinet will be strategically divided to enable all the clients to receive the necessary care and support according to the care they need,” explained Van der Linde.
The two caregivers will report to the professional nurse, Loretta Wiehahn.
Some good news is that the HIV counselling and testing services, which were due to end on September 30, will carry on.
In a last-minute reprieve, funders FPD agreed last Friday afternoon to the continuation of this project for a further six months.
This funding covers the monthly salaries of the HIV counselling and testing programme’s staff, as well as contributing towards general running costs of Hospice.
Colleen Buckle, the current administrator and corporate fundraiser, will be employed as a part-time local fundraiser from November 1.
Van der Linde was appointed as the office manager, and she will be responsible for all administrative work and man the office daily.
As a result of the above changes, Hospice will sell the Hyundai Grand i10 which they own, keeping only the two sponsored vehicles.
“We would like to thank each and every community member for their support and prayers during this difficult time,” said Van der Linde.
“Although we have had to scale down, we will still provide care and support to our clients in accordance with our vision and mission statements.”
