Healthcare Projects
ARV Clinic & Outreach Programme
The Zithulele ARV Outreach programme seeks to increase the number of sites at which ARVs are available, to augment government resources and spread awareness of HIV prevention and treatment within its catchment area. Our aim is to meet our self-imposed target of getting ARVs to an extra 110 patients per month (1,300 per year) within the next two years. In other words, we want to provide accessible HIV/AIDS treatment to all who need it within our catchment area.
In 2009, Jabulani assisted the hospital (which already had its own ARV clinic), to establish two outreach clinics at Mapuzi and Ngcwanguba locations. We were also able to install a large donated parkhome at the overcrowded Ngcwanguba clinic site, which has made a tremendous difference. Last year saw the addition of a further two clinics and this year we made a giant leap forward by adding a futher five clinics as part of the roll-out of the down-referral programme.
Jabulani now pre-packs and distributes ARV's to 10 clinics in the area meaning that patients no longer need to travel all the way to Zithulele to receive their medication. We currently have over 2000 patients on our database receiving life-sustaining ARV's on a monthly basis. As you can imagine, with this level of growth, the ARV programme is extremely busy. We now employ two ARV counsellors (in addition to the Government employed counsellors) and have two Project Trust volunteers helping us from the UK. Jabulani also supplies the programme with stationery and essential medical equipment.
Jabulani now pre-packs and distributes ARV's to 10 clinics in the area meaning that patients no longer need to travel all the way to Zithulele to receive their medication. We currently have over 2000 patients on our database receiving life-sustaining ARV's on a monthly basis. As you can imagine, with this level of growth, the ARV programme is extremely busy. We now employ two ARV counsellors (in addition to the Government employed counsellors) and have two Project Trust volunteers helping us from the UK. Jabulani also supplies the programme with stationery and essential medical equipment.
Waiting Mother's Accommodation
We have joined up with Zithulele Hospital and the Health Department to provide self-catering accommodation on hospital land for pregnant mothers who are due to give birth imminently. With a hospital catchment area of 1000km², it is extremely difficult for many mothers who go into labour at home to get to the hospital in time. There are only three ambulances serving the area, so most patients have to make their own way to the hospital. Public transport is either too expensive or non-existent, and the sub-standard condition of the local roads makes travelling very slow.
As a result, we estimate that around 50% of women in our area give birth at home. Delayed presentation to the hospital accounts for almost one third of avoidable perinatal deaths at the hospital. No data exists for how many babies die at home. The Waiting Mother's Accommodation opened in June 2009 and now we have clean, safe accommodation right next to the hospital for up to ten women at any given time.
As a result, we estimate that around 50% of women in our area give birth at home. Delayed presentation to the hospital accounts for almost one third of avoidable perinatal deaths at the hospital. No data exists for how many babies die at home. The Waiting Mother's Accommodation opened in June 2009 and now we have clean, safe accommodation right next to the hospital for up to ten women at any given time.
Rural Ability
Rural Ability is an idea that has grown from what had previously been known as “Zithulele Therapy Department Support” on the Jabulani Rural Health Foundation website. With Rural Ability we are hoping to expand from just support for the Rehabilitation Department to encouraging donors and volunteers to support community based projects, specifically those involving disabled people. Rural Ability forms part of Zithulele Rural Rehabilitation’s vision and through it we hope to provide accessory services that enhance the lives of disabled people, and expand their possibilities in terms of health, occupation, and personal freedom.
Please click here to learn more about Rural Ability and how you can become involved in helping to realise dreams and create opportunities for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Please click here to learn more about Rural Ability and how you can become involved in helping to realise dreams and create opportunities for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Zithulele Pediatric Ward Support
The Foundation provides ongoing support to the pediatric ward at Zithulele hospital, regularly contributing towards milk supplies for malnourished babies. With the help of staff members, parents and our Masikhule Nutrition Monitor, we would like to start a vegetable garden outside the ward to supplement the children's diets. We need to raise money to buy seeds for the garden and to put towards further milk supplies and toys for the children.
Masikhule Garden & Nutrition
This is a community-run gardening project, which uses a demonstration garden to teach people to grow vegetables with essential vitamins for children. Our focus is on the education of families and the prevention of malnutrition of children. The children involved are weighed each month and their families have the opportunity to buy discounted seeds to grow in their own gardens. Masikhule is modeled on a successful nutrition project run by the Medical Research Council in Kwazulu-Natal, and receives expert input from Nutritionist, Professor Benade.
The community has elected a Nutrition Monitor, Nontandikile who runs the project, holding monthly meetings at the demonstration garden and recruiting new participants. This project is kindly sponsored by a Dutch foundation, Stichting Zithulele, although other donations are always welcome.
The community has elected a Nutrition Monitor, Nontandikile who runs the project, holding monthly meetings at the demonstration garden and recruiting new participants. This project is kindly sponsored by a Dutch foundation, Stichting Zithulele, although other donations are always welcome.
