Lizzie’s community spirit is a win for HIV patients

THE Cato Manor Masibambisane “one-stop-all-round-assistance” Centre will proudly decant ARV’s from community clinics into the community making life easier for HIV positive patients this December.

The huge milestone at the Masibambane, is due to the community work and dedication of Lizzie Mkhize who runs the organisation from her home with her husband, Pastor John.

“I moved into Cato Manor, from Wentworth in 2006, and brought with me my passion for community work. It was here that I met and married Pastor John and helped him in reviving community projects he had started,” she explained.

Together, the couple offered HIV counselling, and testing, from the bedroom of their shack and were also involved in gardening projects and a feeding scheme, which required Lizzie to cook for on an open fire.

“At that time, ARVs were only rolled out at hospitals and we saw that patients had no money for bus fare to travel and get their medication. We were selected as one of the community NGO’s in the country to decant ARV’s from the clinic to patients in the Cato Manor, Wiggins, Cato Crest and Bellair areas on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a huge honour and we are so happy people don’t have to travel far to get their meds,” she said.

Over the years the Masibambane created a name for itself as a one-stop-all-round Centre because Pastor John and Lizzie did not turn anyone away. While the Centre is a home-based clinic, they have had police bring in abandoned children for the night as they are also considered a place of safety in the community. “Everyone comes here, we are on 24/7 call for the community. Even the paramedics feel safe to come through to us when they get to Cato Manor to fetch patients We don’t have a wheelchair so people borrow our wheelbarrow to fetch the elderly. I’ve even delivered a baby here,” she added laughing.

Debbie Heustice, director of info4africa, (formerly Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking, HIVAN and HIV-911 programme), said she had first met Lizzie about ten years ago and learnt of her vision for the Centre. “It is amazing that what started as a modest family initiative has developed into the Centre being launched as a place for decanting,” she said.

“It certainly is a validation of the excellence and her hard work and trust that the community has in her that she has been allowed to decant ARV’s in the community. Lizzie embodies community spirit with her vision, sheer drive and determination. She is an example of community spirit alive in South Africa,” Heustice said.

Jennifer Fisher, a community activist in youth development for more than 20 years, said she was in awe of Lizzie’s work and proud of the Masibambisane. “We have recently started working with the remarkable Lizzie who does not depend on government subsidies and is serving her community with a few volunteers. It’s honest hardworking people like this who are our local heroes that we take pride in working with and supporting,” she said.