THE hospice and respite unit of the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust (HACT), in Old Main Road, Hillcrest is one of a few palliative-care facilities still open in eThekwini. The unit needs support from the Highway community to keep its doors open.
CEO of HACT Candace Davidson says, “According to the Hospice and Palliative Care Association, at least 14 hospices have closed due to funding challenges since Covid-19. We know others no longer operate in-patient units. Responding to pandemics is what HACT does, and it was due to a pandemic response that we were established 32 years ago.”
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The respite unit, called Othandweni or Place of Love, offers a home-from-home environment to those who need it the most. The unit runs at capacity, with a waiting list.
“Our 24-bed, in-patient unit admits late-stage Aids and cancer patients, both children and adults, and serves 250 patients annually, apart from the home care we offer. We offer 24-hour nursing care, medical supplies, food, bedding, basic medication, and everything which is needed, at no cost to the patient. We serve the most vulnerable, who have fallen through the cracks of the public healthcare system or who have no care at home. When resources allow, we conduct home visits for follow-up care, for the recently discharged or those waiting for admission,” says Davidson.
Nursing services manager of the respite unit, Sphe Gamede says that they currently have more patients who do not recover enough to return home or who succumb to their terminal diagnosis.
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Davidson says that the unit lost 67 patients in 2022.
“It’s hard on the team as we do more end-of-life care. The mission for the centre is unconditional love and hope, which we offer across all our programmes and services. It’s emotionally tough but critical to stay with someone right to the end. We say, no one passes away alone, so someone will stay by their side; we practise love in action right to the end – offering compassion, care and dignity.”
Davidson says the public healthcare system can’t accommodate the cancer patients requiring treatment. She says that often a treatment date is given for six to 12 months in the future. When the patient arrives, the cancer may have spread, so treatment is impossible. Lack of education about cancer screening and symptoms is also an issue. Gamede adds that HIV patients may be predisposed to some types of cancers, such as throat, cervical, or breast cancer.
Davidson says it is painful to see young women suffering with late-stage cervical cancer as it can be treated with excellent results when caught and treated early.
Davidson and Gamede concede that it is a challenge to keep their unit open. With annual running costs of R4m, the local economic situation has resulted in a financial squeeze. The centre lost a major funder who stated palliative care was no longer a priority for them.
For more information: www.hillaids.org.za
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