Tabitha Ministries interrelates into churches and all church-based organizations, as well as other civic and social organizations, in a broad-based partnership, in response to those infected and affected by the HIV and Aids pandemic.

History:

In operation since May 1998, we are a Christian based organization ministering to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

• 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 preventive and promotive Primary Health Care a priority.

We believe that effective education is critical in combating the HIV/Aids pandemic here in South Africa.  The following training programmes are currently functional through the Hope Centre.

• Aids Awareness Home Base Care Course.
• Train Care givers to serve the Community.
• Small Businesses (Bussy 5)
• Gardening Courses

Using puppetry and drama, our programme reaches students at their various age and grade levels in schools and consists of HIV/Aids awareness, addressing moral and social issues, basic life skills training and teaching children to say “No”, with an emphasis on there being a hope and a future for each one.

Total number of children exposed in schools programme:       2003 to June 2005

Achieved:

As with the children, drama is used to address these issues in schools.  In addition, an intense weeklong, off-site training is offered to teenage leaders selected by their fellow students and teachers, called Peer Group Education.  St Nicholas donates their school to Tabitha Ministries during school holidays.  This programme has a strong spiritual basis and addresses such issues as:

• Abortion and Pregnancy
• Rape and Molestation
• HIV/AIDS
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• Leadership Training – through a day in a Game Park

Achieved:

Providing care for orphaned and abandoned babies and young children, most of who are HIV+ or have Aids.

Trained Home Base Carers in the community to visit the sick, providing physical, emotional and spiritual support as well as food, medicines and clothing.

Achieved:

• Sweetwaters: 15 caregivers visit 800 patients.

• Kokstad: 10 caregivers; 5 educators who train on farms.

• Personal supervision is given and visitation is made on a weekly basis, and as additional need arises.

• Caregivers receive regular in-service training to improve their level of knowledge and quality of service.

• Caregivers are periodically brought to the Centre for a day of respite and to provide emotional and spiritual support.

The headquarters of Tabitha Ministries. The facility was completed in end September 2004 within one week Patients were received into the centre.

• Care for 20 patients weekly for the year 2005
• Respite care for the sick and the main caregiver, enabling them to return to their home in a more satisfactory state of health.
• Health education to the patient and the family.
• Care and spiritual and emotional support for the patient and family.
• Quality care on discharge by linking each patient to a relevant Care Giver in their community.
• Care for orphaned and abandoned children.

Funding to be raised to install an additional bathroom.

Please note these figures can change accordingly to demand and funding available.

• Increase patients in pro rate to funding
• Expanding training
• Home Based Care
• Anti-Retroviral Training to Caregivers, Nurses and others involved in its rollout
• Mouth Care Courses to Caregivers held monthly.