April 29, 2005
Home Based Care

Sundays River Valley

Situated in the Eastern Cape, with a citrus industry as the driving force behind its economy this valley has 11 citrus packing operations boasting with the largest citrus packing and marketing operation of its kind in Southern Africa, namely the Sundays River Citrus Company. There are about 140 farms, with 8 informal settlements, forming a diverse cultural community. HIV/AIDS is rife with few or no programs in place at present to meet and address the challenges of this pandemic.

In 2003 a group of volunteers were trained by Heinrich Botes ( Co-ordinator: Aids Projects, Doctors For Life) in Home Based Care. The group rolled up their sleeves and started providing care in the area and in October 2004 at the Bersheba Location, near Kirkwood, we trained 11 HBC- volunteers, and presently they have about 60 patients. We are gaining more ground, with the surrounding farms that are being visited.

Regular talks and the showing of the “Aids Against the Family” video are being presented at the prison, clinics and schools and we have always had a positive response from the community.

During April 2005 DV. DFL will initiated their Workplace AIDS Program in the valley, starting with the Sundays River Citrus Company who provide employment to 3000 workers. Strategic planning will also be necessary to meet the needs of the 140 farms and the other 10 packing operations as it is the vision of SRCC to incorporate all employers and their employees into this program. Challenging times lie ahead , may the Lord be with us !

Abraham Warren
Facilitator (HBC & Community Projects) 

Visiting schools


Patient in rural community

        
Trained Home Based Carers