Get access to help
BRYANSTON – Sadag has partnered with Tshikululu to create a helpline for NPO workers called NPOwer.
Patient groups discussed the struggles they have faced over the past year during a webinar hosted by Campaigning for Cancer on 13 April.
The Bryanston-based NPO invited speakers from Rainbows and Smiles, Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC), the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) and PinkDrive to share the hurdles that they as NPOs and the patients they assist have faced since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bonita Suckling of Rainbows and Smiles, an NPO which supports children with cancer, said when the lockdown hit, the organisation was concerned about how they would continue to function financially since many of their fundraisers took place through sports events.
The team chose to opt for virtual fundraisers and was thankful for the support of a corporate sponsor who assisted volunteers with stipends to continue their much-needed work with children.
The Rainbows and Smiles team has needed to remain largely isolated for a year now to protect the health of the young patients who they visit regularly.
Suckling quoted her late son to encourage other NPOs saying, “As my little boy was dying, I asked him what he would like to do and he said, ‘Let’s make today the funnest day ever’ and that has stuck with me and pushed me to make every day worthwhile.”
Health specialist and patient advocate at Cansa, Professor Michael Herbst said the organisation was hard hit by Covid-19, with many businesses going under and job losses affecting their fundraising efforts.
The NPO began a toll-free tele hotline offering counselling to cancer patients and their families in seven languages, which has been a great support to many at this time. The number for the hotline is 080 022 6622.
Herbst mentioned a number of concerns raised by patients which included delays in surgery, lack of communication from the healthcare sector, psychological impact of being in hospital with no visitors, breakdown of radiation equipment and the slow start to vaccination in the country.
Psychosocial support service manager at CHOC, Alta Bence said globally they have seen a 40 per cent decrease in the diagnosis of childhood cancer since the start of the pandemic. Also concerning was the increase in the number of relapses in paediatric oncology and the 24 per cent increase in deaths.
CHOC social workers initially withdrew their services from hospitals due to the hard lockdown, but after an outcry they returned to create better communication between the medical fraternity and patients.
“It has been challenging for social workers to manage their own anxieties with using public transport to access hospitals and the personal risk hospital visits pose to themselves,” added Bence.
Operations director at Sadag, Cassey Chambers urged those working in the NPO sector to look after their own mental health during this busy and stressful time. The organisation has partnered with Tshikululu to create a helpline, NPOwer, for NPO workers. Contact the helpline on 080 051 5515 or SMS 43010 to access their support.
