Viljoenskroon Hospice was founded in 1993 and has been actively involved in Home-based care for terminally ill patients since its inception. Hospice used to be caring for people suffering with terminal cancer and other life threatening diseases, until the HIV and AIDS pandemic hit our community. To cope with the escalating numbers of patients, 14 ladies from the disadvantaged community were trained in all aspects of HIV and AIDS and Hospice Home-based Care. These dedicated Ladies still serve the community today. Counselling and infection control has become an integral part of the service we provide. Since 1997 Viljoenskroon has been actively involved in delivering a service of HIV and AIDS Information, Education, Communication and Destigmatization to our community.
Palliative Home Based Care is imperative for terminally ill persons who are outside the medical care system, and who can no longer be cared for in Hospital. Many of our patients, who have worked on the mines and in urban areas, come home to die. Committed service to the community since 1994 by an interdisciplinary team, the necessary resources, training and education on the services Hospice provides, patients and their families are given compassionate and quality Home Based Care in the final stages of life. Where nutritional needs are met, care and counselling provided, emotional and spiritual support given, HIV / AIDS patients do live longer and discover ‘there is life after an HIV+ diagnoses’.
It is our earnest desire to provide a caring environment, to persons who are in the final stages of life, so they may live as fully, comfortably and completely as possibly.
We were one of the first Hospices to implement an active education, destigmatization and awareness campaign to empower the community and enable them to make informed choices in their lives. The Information, Education and Communication Project will reach 18,000 people in the Viljoenskroon district during 2005. Statistics indicate that a single talk or lecture does not encourage people to make ‘life changes’ in an impoverished Aids Weary Community. Education covering HIV / AIDS awareness, as well as Positive Living, the importance of nutrition for the HIV infected, Infection Control, STIs, TB, and cancer delivered through interactive methods such as dramas, role play and special events will develop resilience in our community to adopt a positive approach to the pandemic. Avenues of approach will be through churches, clinics, the farming community, woman’s organizations, businesses and factories. To reinforce the messages delivered it is imperative to network with other organisations within our community as well as Departments of Social Development, Health, NAPWA, SAPS and CANSA.
Reaching the new generation will form a major part in developing an informed, caring, resilient and positive community in the fight against AIDS. Peer education at primary schools and high schools through our LoveLife franchise has proved a valuable tool over the past 3 years. In 2011 LoveLife will concentrate on 7 to 14 year olds in 4 primary schools with a registration of approximately 1500 pupils. The expected outcome is to reduce the escalating numbers of new HIV infections and to see a reduction in teenage pregnancy statistics as well as arming smaller children with the information on child abuse prevention. Through knowledge and education the youth in our community will be empowered to make positive and informed choices in their lives.
The most serious challenge of the AIDS pandemic is the plight of orphans and vulnerable children in our economically depressed community. It is a devastating and long-term legacy, which we ignore to our cost. By the end of August 2004, there were 79 orphans, between the ages of 0 to 18 years, who had been referred and registered with Viljoenskroon Hospice register. The Davida Day Care Centre was opened in 2002 with 10 children on the register. Today 85 children between 2 months and 7 years receive holistic care daily. With medical care, nutritional meals twice daily, developmental programmes, caring support reaching into the home environment, and each child’s special needs met with love, these babies and children will get the best quality life in the short while they are with us.
It is our earnest desire to deliver to the community a Hospice that serves them with dedication, compassion and excellence, and provides constructive ways to empower and support women, the disadvantaged community, AIDS suffers, encourage and promote programmes that will prevent new HIV infections, and cultivate a community who care (Ubuntu) and who will see a future with reduced AIDS statistics.
Operates in: Viljoenskroon, Free State
Established in: February 2000
Non-Profit Organisation Number: 004-433
Public Benefit Organisation Number:
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:
Contact person: Maggie
Phone: 056 343 3975
Fax: 086 570 6724
Email:
Website: www.hospicevjk.org.za
Physical address: 12 Steyn Street, Viljoenskroon
Postal address: P O Box 823, Viljoenskroon
