Valuable Learning

Post by Joy Ruwodo, Hospice Wits Marketing Manager

Joy Ruwodo

I've been at Hospice Wits now for just over two years. In that time, the relationship with Suncoast Hospice has always been something that I've heard of and felt mildly in our Skype phone calls.

The relationship and understanding of how valuable this partnership is really came to light in full force when we had your team over for a visit. I could then touch and feel the reality of our partnership and benefitted immensely from our conversations and other interactions. I learned so much about how you do things in your hospice and how we could adopt some of your ways to improve our own way of working.

Because of the amount of learning from your short time here, I really felt that it was more important for us to keep the relationship going beyond your return to the States. And hence the idea that we should find a way of getting our teams here to be in contact with their counterparts there on a needs basis. I feel that a lot of good progress could come out of that.

Total Gratitude

Post by Nigel Unwin, Hospice Wits CEO

Nigel Unwin

As a nation South Africa is still in a difficult transition...so is Hospice Wits. The visit by Stacy, Susan and Terri was energizing and uplifting for all of us. Even though we knew that they would come with so much to share and give, we were overwhelmed and humbled by their generosity from all perspectives. This included the six laptops, suitcases full of materials, Learn Center tool, team building with all parts of the organization, work with our management team and visits with our home care sisters. So much in two short weeks.

To feel that Suncoast Hospice, this time through Stacy, Susan and Terri, genuinely sees Hospice Wits as their partner is overwhelming. We feel we have so much to learn and take and not much to share, apart from our absolute commitment to excellent hospice care. Other hospices here in South Africa, which nominally are partnered with hospices in the U.S., are blown away by what our partnership means and what it achieves for Hospice Wits.

From our perspective the best thing about our partnership is that we know that you have so much more that you want to share with us. Amazingly, it doesn’t feel like a one-way street. Perhaps it's enough to give and to be received with total gratitude? Hopefully it is.

Shared Knowledge & Understanding

Post by Mark Hibbins, Hospice Wits Financial Manager

Mark Hibbins

Despite South Africa being the most advanced country in Africa, we're nevertheless fairly isolated in terms of our understanding or even awareness of worldly developments, specifically around palliative care and, to a large extent, technological advances.

Our country is a vast cauldron of many factors. We have 11 official languages, cultural differences and massive anomalies in living and education standards. Within a mile or two from the wealthy live thousands in abject, unbelievable poverty, with the majority whom are unemployed. Our government health facilities are crumbling, many barely functional.

Hospice Wits has units in Houghton, a wealthy area, and Soweto, an impoverished area. We're so fortunate to share a partnership with Suncoast Hospice.We're extremely proud of our Soweto facility and the services we offer to the community. These are only possible to continue because of the generosity of financial contributions from local and international funders.

Sadly, our USAID/PEPFAR funding terminates in March this year, and this will definitely place an additional burden on us to find alternate funding in order to continue our work in Soweto.

For me, the partnership with Suncoast Hospice represents a golden opportunity for both of our hospices to benefit from a sharing of knowledge and understanding.

Our staff who've visited U.S.A. and Suncoast have returned invigorated and filled with new ideas and enthusiasm. And their experiences have been shared with us. We're also in awe that you and your staff who've visited here over the years feel you've learned from us. We trust our mutual association will remain strong.

We're also implementing a number of Suncoast Hospices’ initiatives. We're excited about the ultimate benefits we surely will receive.

Reflections on the Last Two Weeks

It's hard to believe that we've been gone for two weeks. Today (it's Sunday the 17th as I write this) we spent a lovely afternoon having a long leisurely outdoor lunch hosted by Nigel and Dee (Hospice Wits CEO and his wife and my host and hostess). We ate at their outdoor bowling club (not like our American bowling).

Many of our previous Hospice Wits visitors were there including Bev, Dorcus, Ntombi, Penny, Patrick, and Ritta. Joy, marketing manager was also there with her family. It was a delightful afternoon.

We all remarked how fast these two weeks have gone. I can see the sadness in our Hospice Wits's colleagues faces. I can already feel my own beginning telltale signs of starting the saying goodbye process. This disengagement is always difficult. I feel so at home here, surrounded by friends doing similar work. At lunch we were talking about a patient Susan, Terri, and I saw with Penny last week who was admitted to the IPU in Soweto the end of the week. It was nice to be able to confirm what Penny was telling Dorcus and Bev about this patient's primary caregiver.

We've accomplished so much. We spent two half days with their leadership team sharing leadership best practices and reviewing resources available to hospice staff including our Learn Center. I don't believe I told you that Suncoast Hospice donated 6 laptops to Hospice Wits. We brought them in our luggage. These laptops will be placed in the Soweto and Johannesburg offices so staff can access the Learn Center and the Internet (for additional resources).

By the end of Monday we will have provided a day of education to all clinical staff at both locations. By the end of Tuesday we will have made visits with the homecare sisters at both locations. We also spent a day making visits in Soweto with Penny, their social worker.

We have provided support activities, team building, and a powerful activity that reinforced the connection to and importance of all their employees.

We've learned a lot also. I have pictures of a clinical room used for counseling of adults and children I'd like for us to replicate. The walls are painted using nature scenes and mythology to assist with connecting to the symbolic aspects of therapy. I have ideas of how we might use such a room on our campuses.

I have facilitated discussions with the staff and leadership team about how to continue enhancing our partnership. I'll be sharing these suggestions with all of you. First and foremost they'd like to communicate directly with their Suncoast Hospice counterparts. Much more to come.

We will send a few more posts before we leave.

Wish us well during our final three days here. We travel Wednesday night arriving back in Tampa around noon on Thursday. Another 24 hours or so of travel... Susan, Terri, and I will be back to work on Monday the 25th.

Know that we've done a great job representing all of you during these two and a half weeks.

Gratefully,

Stacy

2012 Staff Exchange at Suncoast Hospice

A special part of our partnership with Suncoast Hospice and Hospice Wits is our staff exchange.

Our staffers who have visited our hospices in United States and South Africa have had enriching experiences. They have immersed themselves in our care and cultures, shared knowledge and resources and developed wonderful friendships.

Suncoast Hospice will be honored to host four Hospice Wits staffers for two weeks this fall. They are Dr. Suzanne "Sue" Walter, Dorcus Ramakuela, Penelope Mathe and Beverley "Bev" Tembo. We look forward to welcoming you to our community in Pinellas County, Florida.

Our partnership committee is planning many activities for you. Here in Pinellas, you will tour our facilities, observe our staff in the field, see some beautiful sights and be our special guests at our events. You will also attend a national clinical conference and visit Walt Disney World in Orlando. And more is in the works.

This is going to be an amazing experience. We will see you very soon!

Ebony



Our committee enjoyed meeting you on Skype.



Welcome

Jump to the most recent post.

Care 4 Soweto is a partnership of Suncoast Hospice with the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa supporting the important work of the Hospice Association of the Witwatersrand and Soweto Hospice.

Our purpose is simple – To provide care, aid and support to the Soweto community - ravaged by endemic disease. The people of Soweto and surrounding Jo-burg, are making valiant strides in caring for those patients and their families who are battling terminal illness, and also helping with some of the most basic of needs: food, housing, and care for the children.

Please consider participating in this effort and donate to the important work of the Soweto Hospice and their many programs for the people of Soweto. It only takes a minute.

Follow this blog, and follow our ongoing commitment to our friends in Soweto. Please pass along the address for this site, to your friends and family as well. Thank you for your support, and we encourage you join our partnership.

Living in two worlds

I sit at my desk at home, writing this reflection.  It has been just about 24 hours since we touched down in Tampa.  It’s hard to believe that the two weeks with our sister hospice is over.  My heart and mind are struggling to ‘right’ themselves. My heart is joyful to be back home with my family and is full of the love for my African brothers and sisters. My mind is adjusting to the reality of being home- going through mail, emails, paying bills, etc and I continue to think about my African colleagues- wondering what they’re doing now and how this or that patient is. The reality, though, is that this trip is not really over.  It’s true that we’re no longer in South Africa, spending our days face to face with our African colleagues.  What is equally true is that today is just another day in the continuing and ongoing relationship with our sister hospice.  In 2000 our partnership began and today, May 18, 2009 is the beginning of the next phase of our relationship.  Today, alone, I have received two new emails from African colleagues and I noticed that I had received several emails from other colleagues while in South Africa.  I am so proud of the work that happens every day in Johannesburg and Soweto.  Great things happen each and every day.  We’ll be writing more about this great work during the coming weeks.  There are many stories yet to tell.  Please keep reading our blog.  There will be new postings frequently. Our South African colleagues are also joining our blog and will be sharing their stories.  And, as always, there is more work to do.  Your continued financial support will assist our sister hospice in doing its daily work. 

Keep in mind: Life in its passing is a sacred thing, never to be repeated. Let not a day pass in which we do not honor life's mystery or behold its wonder in our hearts.

Everyone Can Care 4 Soweto

Care 4 Soweto provides a way for everyone to be connected with the work of the Soweto Hospice and to continue the compassion at work through their donations.

Soweto’s Need Is Great

With over 1300 deaths due to HIV/AIDS every week, the entire community is devastated. The economy is in shambles. The number of orphaned children is enormous. There is no government support for hospice services. This is why Care 4 Soweto is so important. In addition to raising much needed funds for the work of the Soweto Hospice.

The Soweto Hospice cares for 700 patients per day in their homes and in the hospice inpatient unit. Unlike US hospices, the Soweto Hospice is challenged by more than just providing excellent home care to patients.

Soweto Hospice staff also provides orphan care as thousands of children in Soweto are AIDS orphans, many of them infected themselves. The hospice runs a child day care center where more than 150 children who are infected with HIV/AIDS or orphaned by AIDS can come and receive meals, education, spiritual support and physical care. More than 70% of the children in day care are receiving anti-retrovirals for their own AIDS infection.

Soweto Hospice also provides adult day care centers where 30 to 40 patients per day come for a hot meal, socialization, medical and spiritual support.

Since poverty is such an issue in Soweto…more than 60% are unemployed…Soweto Hospice staff provide medical supplies, pain medication and food parcels as they visit families living in shanty towns with no electricity or plumbing.

In 2007, Soweto Hospice opened a 24 bed inpatient unit that houses 16 adults and 8 pediatric children who are too sick to remain at home.

Amidst the challenges of poverty, homelessness, hunger, joblessness, crime and the eradication of two generations of South African blacks, the Soweto Hospice stands as a beacon of hope to those suffering with AIDS and cancer in Soweto. It is the mission of the South African hospice committee at The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, to stand beside our “sister” hospice and to provide whatever we can to lessen their load.

In 2009, a group of volunteers from The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, will self-fund their trip, and journey to South Africa to spend 2 weeks with our partner hospice once again.

Compassion Is Not A Local Phenomenon.

Founded by a dedicated group of enlightened health services professionals and concerned community, Suncoast Hospice has provided care for those nearing the end of life and their families since 1977, regardless of race, creed, diagnosis or ability to pay.

As the leading community based, not-for-profit hospice nationwide, it’s not surprising that Suncoast Hospice would look beyond the borders of its sun-drenched corner of the U.S., see a need, offer help, support, and yes, compassion. The township of Soweto, South Africa came clearly into focus.

Meanwhile, in Soweto, South Africa’s largest township, the Hospice of the Witwatersrand, struggled, mired in tremendous need. About 500,000 South Africans have already died from AIDS-related causes. Projections based on the current rate of HIV prevalence suggest that as many as 10 million may succumb over the next 15 years.

Partners in Compassion

The Soweto Hospice was established with the help and support of organizations like The Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa, (FHSSA), USAID, Witwatersrand Hospice, and those in the local community of Johannesburg. Suncoast Hospice through the Suncoast Hospice Foundation also made a commitment to provide assistance and support to its “sister” organization.

The goals of the partnership are:

• sharing of information

• technical assistance to the Soweto Hospice

• promotion of staff exchanges

• monetary support

• raising awareness of the accomplishments and needs of the Soweto Hospice.

Staff of Suncoast Hospice has organized and handled this effort as volunteers, with fundraising projects supported by the Suncoast Hospice Foundation.

Accomplishments of the partnership include:

• Staff exchanges every other year since 2000 with 7 South African staff visiting the US and 11 Suncoast staff visiting the Soweto Hospice. Staff exchanges include touring, observing, teaching and working one on one with hospice staff and patients.

• Suncoast Hospice has raised more than $100,000 in grants and donations for Soweto Hospice. Note – Only donations designated to go toward aid to Soweto are sent on to South Africa.

• More than 1,500 pounds of medical supplies have been taken or shipped to Soweto for patient care.

• Professional education manuals, DVDs, journals, equipment, books and videos have been provided to Soweto Hospice for staff and volunteer education.

Everyone Can Care 4 Soweto Continue >>>

African Staff Exchange 2009

In 2000, Suncoast Hospice joined in partnership with the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa (FHSSA) to be paired with the Hospice of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and Soweto, South Africa

The mission of FHSSA is to support organizations in their development and provision of hospice and palliative care initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. To date there are over 75 US hospices partnered with hospices in sub-Saharan Africa

Our partnership provides financial support to the Soweto Hospice through payroll deductions, special fundraising drives and events. We also send staff every other year to provide training and support to both patient care staff and office staff. On the off year of our travel we usually pay for some of our African colleagues to come spend time at our hospice and then attend a National Hospice and Palliative Care national conference

In 2007, eight of our staff traveled to our sister hospice. We spent 2 weeks providing assistance and support. Staff who are selected for this travel must commit to paying their own way and work on behalf of the partnership upon their return

This year, 7 employees and friends of Suncoast Hospice are traveling 8900 miles to visit with our sister hospice. They are: Laura Mosby, Lea Ann Horton, Amy Post Grady, Cathy Lasky, Steve Lasky, Roxie Smith, and Stacy Orloff.

The need for assistance is great:

• Over 1300 deaths due to HIV/AIDS every week
• No government assistance to pay for hospice care- everything is based on donations
• The Soweto Hospice never has enough medication and supplies for their patients
• Nursing sisters and social workers have very high caseloads
• There are no chaplains, few volunteers
• Worsening budget crisis for the hospice due to world economic slowdown

Our plan for 2009

• Raise $8900 to take with us in May. Money will be spent on patient care and determined by our sister hospice. We’ll provide some financial assistance to every patient we visit. Other money may purchase medical supplies and medication
• Help our sister hospice become more self sustaining by our ongoing fundraisers year round and through developing sustainable partnerships with international companies
• Create www.care4soweto.org to increase awareness of our sister hospice and increase donations!

Call to action

• Support our future fundraisers
• Tell your friends, family and community about our sister hospice and encourage them to donate
• Help us to raise our $8900
• Keep our African colleagues and their families as well as , their patient/families in your thoughts and prayers
• Donations should be made to Suncoast Hospice Foundation – Soweto Hospice. For more information on making donations, please call Bryn Warner: 727-523-3414 or visit the Suncoast Hospice Website http://www.thehospice.org/help/donating.aspx