Care centre is a haven for cancer patients
On a quiet street in Aqua Park is a centre that has impacted the lives of many residents who have fought cancer in the area.
The Tzaneen Cancer Care Centre (TCCC) has been caring and guiding patients since it was first started in the mid-eighties in a small facility in mid-town built by the late businessman, Manny de Gouveia.
But five years ago, when an anonymous sponsor bought a property and donated it on the precondition that it is used for cancer care, they were been able to provide a wider range of services.
“At the moment we have 34 patients who are at home fighting cancer and are consulted by our five caregivers who give their time, support and knowledge as volunteers,” says Halima Omar, TCCC manager.
Overall the centre has fifteen volunteers who are involved in the various areas of running the organisation.
Halima took over management 18 months ago after she worked as a caregiver for a number of years.
Four other well-known residents, Yasmeen Bhamjee, Magda Bootha, Evelyn Klinkert and Tracy Pratt, serve as the board of directors. Last year alone they were able to accommodate fifteen cancer patients in their three rooms.
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“When we have patients in residence, we have full-time nurses who care for them 24-hours a day,” Halima told the Herald.
“Of the fifteen patients we accommodated, twelve were not able to contribute to their care and we had to find funding to cover the costs. But we never turn anyone away,” she said.
Halima says that when they admit a patient at the home in Aqua Park, it usually is at the ‘end of life’ phase of their lives where family members are able to visit and spend time in the peaceful surroundings.
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In March they admitted two patients and since the beginning of the year, four patients. Most of the caregivers have surrendered a loved one to cancer at one stage or another.
Halima has lost her own mother and it is these first-hand experiences that make the advice they are able to share so much more real and practical, Halima says.
“But we always tell a patient to consult further with his or her doctor on the information we provide.”
She says their cancer care is on a very real, personal and emotionally taxing level and caregivers have to be debriefed from time to time, a service that is provided free of charge by Margie Schlebusch, a local psychological counsellor.
The centre is totally self-funded.
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“Businesses and the farming community are very supportive and have been donating generously.” To support their income further, they rent out medical equipment at very reasonable prices.
Up until recently they had the means to accommodate daycare for chemotherapy patients but had to stop the service as the doctor located to other premises.
“We have the necessary facilities and are currently looking to rent our already equipped premises to an appropriate health professional,” Halima said.
This, and the monthly contributions they receive via stop orders, will help to cover some of the running costs, she said.
They have recently been issued with an NPO number which makes it possible for contributors to claim tax benefits.
She says they are not affiliated with Cansa as most of the funds raised by the organisation go towards care on a national level while they prefer to keep it local.
But in the end, it is their ability to overcome the cultural boundaries of race, religion, or socio-economic status to provide a service to the community.
“We are a melting pot where there are no egos, our only aim is to care for cancer sufferers,” Halima said from their spotless and beautifully maintained premises!
