August, 2008

In this month’s newsletter:

• Partnering for Passion
• Nkoaranga Celebrates Inauguration
• Hope for Africa Event
• Notes from our Partners

Partnering for Passion
Zanesville, Africa come together as part of medical cooperative

By Holly Richards
Staff Writer
Zanesville Times Recorder – July 9, 2008

ZANESVILLE - Roughly 20,000 people sought help for HIV/AIDS and other prevalent diseases at The Rock Hospital in Ghana, Africa, last year.

While the African government does what it can to help, these thousands of afflicted patients were able to receive the care and treatment they needed because of Genesis Hospice and Palliative Care.

Two years ago, Genesis HealthCare Systems, specifically the Hospice and Palliative Care division, joined forces with the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa. FHSSA matches United States hospices with those in Africa to provide financial, educational and professional support and assistance.

The first American partnership in Ghana was formed between Genesis and the Miracle Rock Foundation, headed by the Rev. Dr. Charles Abban.

After two years of corresponding through e-mail, Abban finally had the chance to visit Zanesville this week and meet some of the many local citizens who make treating his country's patients possible.

"I'm excited and overwhelmed," he said. "This partnership has helped us a lot with finances and training. It's an opportunity to see how Genesis HealthCare Systems works so I can try to bring it to the African land."

Abban said it's been a struggle to sustain the hospital's HIV/AIDS program because of the stigma still attached to the disease.

"We're trying to fight against the discrimination of patients, which is still a serious issue," he said. "The foundation offers spiritual upliftment, awareness and counseling and treatment of AIDS patients and other diseases. We try to meet the needs of the poor and people in need. People need to be supported."

Thanks to the compassion of Genesis, many of these people can get the support they need.
So far, Genesis has raised about $5,000 for the FHSSA, which is then distributed to the Miracle Rock Foundation to use for nutritional supplements and other forms of treatment. Some of the money came from various raffles, but the majority came from voluntary honorariums. Tim Patton, Hospice chaplain, performs funerals on behalf of Hospice, and any money given to him is directly put into the fund for Abban's foundation.

"It might be a small donation from us, but it's huge for Charles," Patton said. "It's money they otherwise wouldn't have. There's a lot of need out there, and this is an opportunity to help somebody far, far away, and to do something good for somebody else. And it lends legitimacy to his program."

Abban's visit is a chance for the medical professionals to learn from each other and see how they can best help each other.

"We've learned a lot about his culture, and he's here today to shed light on the needs of the people in his country; he is the face of these people," said Hospice Director Renee Sparks. "As the Medicare budget tightens, this is also our chance to learn from him on how to do more well less resources."

Abban will give a special presentation to Genesis staff members today as a way to thank them for their support and to give an update on how and where their generous dollars are being spent.

"I invite Tim and Renee and the team to come to Africa to see what their money and strengths are doing," Abban said. "And I want to know what I can do to support Genesis HealthCare Systems. I want to be able to give in return and have the joy of giving."
Sparks said she hopes Abban's visit will generate more community awareness so others will be encouraged to give. Those interested in assisting The Miracle Rock Foundation can contact Hospice at 740-454-5364.

"For our staff, this is an extension of our mission to provide end-of-life care," Sparks said. "This global partnership shows how important end-of-life care is regardless of where you live. We want to be leaders in the fight to die peacefully."

Nkoaranga Celebrates Inauguration

Nkoaranga Hospital, a hospital site associated with FHSSA’s “Continuum of Care for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania” (CHAT) project, recently celebrated two exciting inaugurations. Having trained 22 Home-Based Care volunteers, Nkoaranga put their certificate award ceremony on hold because the hospital was also inaugurating their new Care and Treatment Center building for HIV/AIDS patients which is supported by the U.S. government through the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

This occasion was graced by His Excellency - The US Ambassador to Tanzania Mr. Mark Green and other significant guests including the DMO for Meru district, RMO for Arusha, DC for Meru district, The Hon. Bishop for Diocese of Meru, Rev Akyoo, Country Technical Director for EGPAF, Dr. Denis Tindyebwa and CDC Technical Director, Dr. Mmari, various groups of people living with HIV/AIDS, staff and management of Nkoaranga Hospital.

This important event signified the need to incorporate palliative care by a cadre of trained community based volunteers into the continuum of care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Hope for Africa Event

By Kathy Phoenix

Hope for Africa was a fundraising event sponsored by VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of San Antonio for their visiting hospice partner Dr. Weru from Nairobi Hospice in Kenya. The event included 12 performance groups from community churches, schools and studios along with home style BBQ and merchandise vendors. Dr. Weru brought a number of items from Nairobi markets to raise money and the day turned into a moving and uplifting event to all. The performers and the audience became inspired by each other and the mission at hand. Dr. Weru was moved on numerous occasions and when asked to speak from the stage, his simple message was this, "your support here today means more than I can ever express".

Numerous bridges were built between VITAS, churches, organizations and the community because of the genuine mission of the day. All performers expressed a desire to be included in future events we will have for Nairobi. In addition, a number of native Kenyans that work at some of the local hospitals came. They were so impressed that they arranged dinners throughout the week with a number of Kenyans from the community - what a priceless experience to see their joy of connecting here in the USA and to be a part of helping those they have left back in Nairobi. I was overwhelmed and touched that they made me feel such a part of their "Kenyan family" and I will continue to keep in touch with those that I met. The PR for the event also generated a donation of approx $500 in medical supplies that we were able to send back with Dr. Weru.

Many connections were made that will help support both the VITAS mission in outreach and our mission through FHSSA. The visit with Dr. Weru and the event was filled with political updates, heartwarming memories and continued bridge building that I look forward to in the future.

Notes from Our Partners

This section will showcase activities, success stories and partner visits submitted by U.S. and African partners. We encourage you to submit and share your success stories. Please email them to: fadesanya@fhssa.org.

Bon Voyage Marlies!

It is with sadness and great gratitude that the orphans and vulnerable children of the Metsweding district bid farewell to Marlies Breeuwsma. Marlies will be returning to her home in the Netherlands after doing volunteer work at St. Joseph’s Care and Support Trust for the past 18 months.

Marlies worked tirelessly to establish Kids Care and Support Trust, a community based organization that has assumed an independent role in the field of care for orphans and vulnerable children and has taken over three locations, Rethabiseng, Refilwe and Zithobeni from St. Josephs. KCST has empowered the members of the community to accept responsibility
for the care of their orphans.

Marlies, lovingly referred to as “Gogo”, was often seen holding a child in her arms and encouraging her fellow colleagues. At her farewell, held in the newly established Zithobeni community centre, she was honored with songs, dance and was dressed in traditional African attire!

Through tears and laughter she announced to all present “My heart is in Africa and I will return.”

Marlies Breeuwsma with children of the Metsweding district at her farewell as she prepares to return to the Netherlands after 18 months with St. Joseph's Care and Support Trust.

* * *

"Mr. & Miss St. Joseph's Youth Pageant" at St. Joseph's Care and Support Trust

In celebration of Youth Day 2008, St. Joseph’s Care and Support Trust held a “Mr. & Miss St. Joseph’s Youth Pageant" on Saturday the 14th June. This pageant was different from any other. Firstly, it had nothing to do with looks and secondly it involved orphans and vulnerable children from the communities that St. Joseph serves. The goal was to identify an ambassador amongst the youth, for the youth.

The day was filled with excitement. Over 500 youth from the communities surrounding Bronkhorspruit attended the event, eager to see who would be crowned the first ever Mr. & Miss St. Joseph’s Youth. The event was filled with excitement and cheering for the favorites. Entertainment included the Rethabiseng and Refilwe dancers as well as a couple of children who decided on the day that they would like to perform a poem or sing a song!

It was a tough decision for the judges to make as all 16 participants came across as strong competitors for the title. Congratulations goes out to Maria Magarete from Onverwacht and Kleinbooi Mathebe from Refilwe for winning the very first Mr. and Miss St. Joseph’s Youth pageant. They will be expected to represent St Joseph’s in the communities and be a role model and ambassador to their peers. Elisabeth Schilling, the Director of St Joseph’s feels that they will do an excellent job!

Coming in close second and third place was 1st Prince – Simphiwe Khumalo
from Wolvenkop, 2nd Prince – Xolani Ndubatha from Ekangala, 1st Princess – Amanda Selala
from Refilwe and 2nd Princess – Lerato Cheze from Ekangala.

NHPCO Invites FHSSA Partners to Join International eAffiliate Membership

NHPCO has developed a new membership category called International eAffiliate Membership. Last month, U.S. hospices were contacted to invite their African counterparts to join this new membership type. By completing the membership application, U.S. hospices were encouraged to contact their partner in Africa to learn the names and the contact information of the hospice staff and volunteers. The response to this invitation from FHSSA partners has been overwhelmingly positive. The first completed application was returned 12 hours after the mailing went out and ever since, the Office of International Development has been receiving a steady flow of queries and enthusiastic comments about this new initiative. NHPCO hopes that the International eAffiliate Membership will help FHSSA increase access to resources for its partners. International eAffiliate Membership Benefits Include:

• Access to NCHPP type “Members Only” content on www.nhpco.org

• Access to NHPCO’s electronic member directory

• Access to the National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals (NCHPP)

• Free networking opportunities through our International List Serve, www.nhpco.org/global

• Free monthly e-newsletter from Caring Connections, Connections

• Free weekly e-newsletter from NHPCO, NewsBriefs

• Free monthly online journal from NHPCO, NewsLine

• Discounted prices for consumer brochures and other items at NHPCO’s Marketplace

• Discounted registration fees to NHPCO conferences

• Discounted subscription to the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Note that International eAffiliate Members will only receive materials electronically.

For more information, please visit www.nhpco.org/global or send your questions to global@nhpco.org.

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© Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2008.