Respite Care is an extension to our Home-based care service, we opened a respite unit in an unused ward in the Hillcrest Hospital in February 2006. Home-based care (HBC) is definitely the answer to large scale HIV/AIDS care in this context, however, HBC relies on our caregivers and nurses giving backup/support to the primary caregiver, who is a family member. However, in the last 18 months, our caregivers found that very often in many households, there no longer is a caregiver at home because so many adults have died. Subsequently, patients are either left on their own all day or a child has to give up attending school in order to become the caregiver. The youngest caregiver we have experienced was a girl of 5 years who was endeavouring to look after her ill mother.



The respite unit is a home from home where patients can be cared for in a loving environment and either recover or die with dignity. Between February and December 2006 no less that 33 patients that were admitted to die, are now living fulfilled lives in the community on ARVT (Anti-Retroviral Treatment).

The unit is currently based at the Hillcrest Hospital; however, the lease expires for this facility end of February 2008. Plans are underway to build a respite/palliative care unit on site, at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT), however, funding is desperately needed for this project.

I would like to sponsor the Respite Unit /Building Fund