WATCH: Wattville organisation a pillar of strength to community
The organisation has over the years made a difference in the lives of many people in the East Rand.
Living with HIV/Aids can be deeply disturbing but organisations such as the Methodist Wattville Outreach in communities play a pivotal role in providing support to infected and affected people.
Situated in the heart of Wattville, at 1038 Ngengebule Street, the organisation which operates as Methodist Wattville Outreach Community Programme has over the past 20 years developed community-based programs to provide better care and support for people with HIV and AIDS.
They cater for communities such as Wattville, Actonville, Benoni, Mackenzie, Daveyton, Kwa-Thema, Springs, Duduza and Tsakane.
Established before 2003, the organisation was founded by the late Sister Valencia Faridah Gama, Esther Mpye, Reverent Meshack Makole and later joined by Judith ‘Zaitoona’ Sunday.
They noticed a need for a soup kitchen for the elderly identified through home-based care to empower and increase awareness about the disease in communities.
The director, Judith ‘ Zaitoona’ Sunday said the programmes were first carried out at St Luke Methodist Church in Xuma Street before they were expelled with short notice, compelling the organisation to move to its current location at the old Wattville Police Station.
“In 2005, the organisation was officially registered. The founders decided to keep the name Methodist to honour the church for allowing the organisation to carry out programmes at their premises and not lose its relationship and identity with stakeholders.
“The organisation also fed people who were sick at home infected with the disease and who didn’t have food, through donations received from companies,” said Sunday.
The director said the services of HIV/AIDS started as voluntarily counselling testing (VCT) and later changed to HIV/AIDS Counselling and Testing (HCT), now referred to as HIV testing services (HTS) and Service Centre.
Homebased care for chronic and bedridden HIV and Aids patients was introduced to reduce the burden at health facilities.
Sunday said after seeing a demand for such services the programme was extended comprehensively by including decanting, home tracing, HIV stigma and prevention, gender-based violence awareness and -prevention and the luncheon club for the elderly.
“Around 2016 we were privileged to be joined by the Aurum Institute. The organisation played a huge role as it assisted us financially. With that funding, we were able to build a structure where we are located now, bought a combi, two vehicles and installed a solar system,” said Sunday.
The organisation has over the years made a difference in the lives of many people who are now qualified as professional nurses, social workers and community health workers.
The director added the organisation played a pivotal role in rendering its best services during the peak of the HIV and covid-19 pandemic regardless of the challenges, including risks they faced.
Through a skills programme funded by HWSETA, the organisation has enabled young people in Wattville and surrounding communities to get drivers licenses and educational skills.
Some of the youths were offered training which benefited them with licenses and employment.
Through the luncheon club, they keep elderly people busy by providing interactive activities such as music and sport.
They visit the centre every Monday to Friday from morning until 2pm where they receive breakfast and lunch. The eldest member is 101 years.
Challenges
Sunday shared there is no electricity in the space where they are running their services, which tends to hamper production.
“We rely on a solar system which is expensive to maintain. Last month we were given a three weeks notice that the municipality will cut off the water if we don’t pay. What will happen to our clients and staff who come to the centre if the water is disconnected?”
She indicated that the bill is “too much” because the building inside the premises is occupied by another tenant – causing a dispute about who will pay the rates.
The director who is also the secretary-general for NPOs in the network called Southern NPO Federation and Alliance of NPO Networks said they have for years tried to lease to buy the site but it has been dragging on.
“If we can get our own land to run our services from it will be better. Our efforts to engage with the previous mayoral office haven’t been fruitful,. However, the current office of the mayor seems to respond positively?”
Sunday said the organisation is in dire need of financial assistance to fund programmes halted due to lack of funds.
She indicated that the funding they receive from the Department of Social Development and Department of Health is not enough to cater for all their vital programmes due to the current challenges that our country is facing.
“We have retrenched about 80 of our staff members due to the organisation’s financial difficulties. We have also seen an increase in people defaulting because some of our programmes have stopped.
“Our field workers who work for the linkage to care programme also need a boost of petrol to take our clients to clinics and hospitals.
To contribute to the sustainability of the programme contact Sunday on 011 914 0013/ 082 760 5001 or email methwattoutrcommprog@gmail.com.
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