Vision, Mission & Aims
Drakenstein Hospice
The Drakenstein Hospice was established as the Paarl Hospice in 1991. They changed their name in 2003 to accurately reflect the area that they serve. This area is the Drakenstein Health District, District 2 of the Westcoast-Winelands area. A peri-rural area with a population of 200 000. It includes two larger and three smaller towns including the surrounding farm districts.
The hospice aims to respond to the physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of persons living with life threatening illnesses, including HIV/AIDS. They do this through providing palliative home-based care and education. They are a member of the Hospice Palliative Care Association (HPCA) and have been accredited by the Council of Hospital Services Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA). They have been actively involved in training volunteers and Department of Heath professional staff, home-based care nurses, and hospice staff in palliative care. Since 2005, HIV/ AIDS became one of their strong focuses that prompted the development of the Butterfly House. Still in its early stages of development, Butterfly House is an extension of the hospice's current programme into a surrounding impoverished township with a high HIV infection rate and a high number of OVCs. It will function as a resource and educare centre that involves various community agencies to help with support, planning. Construction on the building has already started and will be completed early in the year.
Innovation
The Drakenstein Hospice has shown progress in its response to people living with chronic diseases by creating the Butterfly House pilot project for HIV/ AIDS care specifically.
Effectiveness
Drakenstein Hospice care for 280 patients per month, 125 HIV/ AIDS, and 52 children. 5 trained professional nurses and 2 social workers supervise this work done by 18 employed palliative home-based carers. They were also a part of the curriculum writing of the Home-Based Care Course that is used nationally to train community home-based carers.
Poverty Impact
The hospice employs 18 palliative home-based carers that are paid a monthly salary of R1 200 a month. Over 250 homes are reached through the Drakenstein Hospice every month and these families are supported with food parcels, treatment and overall care in order to effectively manage a sick family member.
Sustainability
Their total income for 2007 was R6 106 683.68. An amount of R482 327.37 was received in donations from donors that include Podlashuk Charity Fund, Fairview Trust and Be Part. Grants came to a total of R1 334 916.16 from various international sources, National Lottery and ARK. Their fundraising brought in R372 025.87. This funding covers an annual budget of R2 003 408.71
Replication
Drakenstein Hospice is currently working on documenting the process, writing policies and procedures for the Butterfly House. This will aid other hospices in replicating the project in the areas where they work.
Partnerships
- Paarl Round Table (legal, financial and architectural management)
- The Norwegian Social Work Agency (funding and support of building)
- Monte Christo Ministeries (pediatric nurse, admin clerk, financial)
- HPCA (support around polices, procedures)
- Community (labour for building of centre)
- Dept of Health, international and national funders
