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We are Christian professional nurses who will, together with those whom we train as caregivers, minister to a dying, hurting and suffering world. Our purpose is to bring health, wholeness and spiritual freedom through the love of Jesus.

Tabitha will care for and minister to any human being in need with the understanding that the gospel of Jesus Christ will not be compromised.

Tabitha Ministries started in May 1998, and has developed many aspects of assistance into the community and urban areas around Pietermaritzburg.

We are Christian based and concentrate on programmes such as caring for those that are affected and infected with HIV/AIDS, both adults and children, with Community Patients and children from Child-Headed Households being a major focus.

Resident at the Hope Centre, we have orphaned and abandoned children ranging from birth to 6 years of age, most of the orphaned children are without any kind of family support and are solely reliant on Tabitha Ministries. The Hope Centre has required extensive restoration and is now fully operational.

We furthermore provide a pediatric clinic in partnership with Grey’s Hospital to the children, a Psychologist who visits weekly and a School that assists with education.

It is vitally necessary to improve the quality of health and the well being of the children, both in the community and at the Hope Centre.

Tabitha Ministries is a genuine example of the support and interaction between organizations in Pietermaritzburg, in taking action to support and care for those most directly affected and infected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

The Problem of AIDS

AIDS is a problem that affects us all.  Every day we read of statistics designed to alert us to the ravages of AIDS.  Some noteworthy statistics:

-      For the first time in our history, the number of deaths has exceeded the number of births in KwaZulu-Natal as a result of AIDS.

-      In the the year 2005:

• Only 13% of South Africa’s population will reach the age of 40.

• 5 million of a total population of 44.8 million are infected with HIV.

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But statistics only tell half the story.  They do not convey the human face of the illness and its related affect on individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole.

It is no longer enough to try to prevent the spread of HIV.  AIDS is a reality that is here to stay and it needs to be addressed.  Health services are already stretched to their limits and many facilities are not able to cope with the demands currently placed on them.  The only viable solution to address the AIDS problem is to mobilise communities to self-help health care.

Background              

Tabitha Ministry staff is currently comprised of over 20 volunteers, including Home Base Carers in 3 different communities who walk from house to house providing support to infected and affected families. In addition we have volunteer overseas staff. 

Our goal is to move nursing care into the communities and educate caregivers to provide compassionate and effective care for chronically and terminally ill patients.  However, these community-based workers have found that there is still an incredible need for a facility to assist adults and children who have no local support structures who are in dire socio-economic circumstances. For them an alternative place of care is needed. 

Treating infected and affected patients in such an institution as the Hope Centre enable the patients to revive sufficiently to return to their homes in better state of health.

Location

The Hope Centre is located at the former administration building of the Department of Transport at 30 Doull Road, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is a free standing building surrounded by a concrete wall and easily accessible to the local population by taxi and bus.  Ample parking is available within the grounds. The premises have required extensive renovations. 

The Hope Centre has been in operation since March 2005.

To Promote healing of the whole person: spiritual, emotional, mental and physical.

To Educate members of the community towards confidence in providing compassionate and effective care for the chronically and terminally ill in their community, using the limited resources available.

To Serve all people regardless of race, creed, class or financial standing.

To make preventative and promotive Primary Health Care a priority.

1. To provide respite care for HIV positive patients in the Hope Centre.
2. To provide support and education to the family.
3. Increase Home-Base Care Facilities in to rural communities.
4. Reproduce Tabitha Ministries in local community.
5. To provide care for orphaned and abandoned children.

Management Structures

Board of Directors

How Can You Help Us

1. Pray Daily for the Work and the Workers.

2. Assist with Funding NO matter how big or small.

3. Consider our shortlist, do you know an organization that can assist us. This equipment is vitally important to give comfort to our clients or would you donate towards a machine.

4. Monthly donation to sustain the ministry, to provide necessary items e.g.formula, Nappies, medicines, School supplies as well as running costs

• Donation towards the care of orphaned and abandoned children

• Donation towards children from Child Headed House Holds

• Donation towards community work - Food / Medicines

A Moment of Hope

The song, A Moment of Hope was created specifically for Tabitha Ministries as a 'Theme Song'. If you wish to listen to it, please click here.

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