Progress

January has been a month full of new starts in the Home Based Care Program!
Firstly, TransCape has a new HBC Coordinator! Lindelwa, the leader of Siyakhula HBC has agreed to work with TransCape now, to be the coordinator of our whole HBC program. TransCape couldn't have wished for anyone better for the job, as Lindelwa has been a pioneer of Home Based Caring in Nqgeleni.
This year we are starting up a forum for our HBC leaders. At the end of each month all of the HBC leaders will meet together with the HBC coordinator to hand in their monthly reports and discuss problems, successes and any new announcements for the month.
Our first forum meeting took place at the end of January with Lindelwa, Lindiwe (Siyakhula's new leader), Nontandazo (Philisa), and myself. Nonkululeko (Mdumbi) was unable to attend. At this meeting we were able to explain clearly how we expected the reports to be filled in and also how the New HIV program would work and how the HBCs would be involved. It was also raised that there is another HBC in Ward 14, and while we are unable to support them financially at this time, we will invite them to join our forum so that they can be learning from the other groups. Hopefully at the end of this month all of our HBC leaders will be able to attend so we can learn more about what is happening in their groups.
Jutta, an amazing donor with an extraordinarily large heart, will begin providing our groups with matress covers, linen protectors, and disposable nappies for their bedridden patients. At this meeting we discovered that Siyakhula has 11, and Philisa and Mdumbi both have 10 bedridden patients so this is a huge blessing for the carers.
Construction has begun on Philisa's new office building! Dave and his team of bricklayers began working on the lot last week and now Philisa anxiously awaits their new 2 roomed, flat-top office building.
Another positive note, if not a new start is that Philisa's carers are now about half way through their SANTA training and are doing very well. In a competition this weekend against the other training groups, they came in first place. Well done ladies!!