Our school nurse, Sister Grace, has been busy during the Easter Holidays, supporting chronically ill patients in the community in urgent need of food, clothes and proper nursing care. Gender-based violence has led to stabbing and loss of lives.

“During the month of April, we lost 4 patients within a week! All required nutritional support and counseling. I managed to visit some of the patients and bathed them.” She dressed their wounds but sadly the patients died.

“If there was a proper healthcare facility or Hospice in our community some of the issues would have been attended on time and lives could have been saved.“

People of the Waterberg are suffering due to:

• THE GOVERNMENT CLINIC IS UNDERSTAFFED AND SHORT OF MEDICATION
• POOR LIVING CONDITIONS: OVER CROWDING, NO PROPER TOILETS, NO ELECTRICITY
• INCREASE IN COMMUNITY THEFT BY BOYS ADDICTED TO DRUGS
• GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND KNIFE CRIME
• CHILD-HEADED FAMILIES WHO ROAM THE STREETS OR HANG AROUND BEGGING WHEN THEY COULD BE IN SCHOOL
• POOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: GRANT MONEY USED FOR GAMBLING AND ALCOHOL
• LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OR INFORMATION ABOUT CHRONIC MEDICATION
• FOREIGNERS ARE SCARED TO GO TO THE LOCAL CLINIC AND DEFAULT ON TREATMENT

A 25-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND PASSED AWAY ON 16 APRIL 2023.

Sister Grace has found herself providing post traumatic counseling, passive exercises, nutritional supplements and clothes. “When I come across cases that need further intervention, I refer them to Doctor Farrant and he guides me … I am so grateful to work with him closely.”

Pictures of terminally ill patients couldn’t be shared here due to sensitive content

TWT food parcels and clothing donated through Acts of Mercy has been distributed

THOSE IN NEED WERE IDENTIFIED BY CHURCH ELDERS. BABY CLOTHES AND A FOOD PARCEL WERE DONATED TO A TEENAGE MOM AND CLOTHES TO A CHURCH MEMBER WHO LOST HER BELONGINGS IN A SHACK FIRE

PROGRESS:

• The Government has introduced skills development courses in agriculture and poultry farming, basic First-Aid, snake handling, business management.
• Cycling clubs help keep the youth occupied and off the streets
• The Social Relief Grant has been extended to support families
• Community members are back at work, selling farm produce and rearing chickens.
• Some sell waste to the local recycling company

MANY THANKS GO TO THE CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AT 24 RIVERS. THE CHURCH COTTAGE HAS ACCOMMODATED THOSE WHO SEEK COUNSELING IN A QUIET ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO TALK FREELY. SCHOOL GIRLS STOP BY TO COLLECT PADS.

Sister Grace would like to thank donors for their ongoing support and donations of clothes, stationery and sanitary pads, which has helped less privileged children and adults. She continues to distribute food parcels for those who have low or no source of income, assessing the home situation and identifying needs. Forty people were aided this month despite damaged roads.

If you are able to support Sister Grace’s work financially, even in a small way, you can find different ways on TWT’s DONATE page. We have ideas for fundraising here.