Facilities available at the hospice

    TRAINING CENTRE

The training centre prioritizes the training of primary caregivers, including family members of the sick. Most of our patients are from resource-limited environments living in poor socio-economic conditions. Health care is often neglected and therefore it is vital to train the family members in the provision of basic care for their loved-ones who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Such home-based care complements the care given at the Hospice.

    OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT

In an era of HIV and AIDS, many patients do not need inpatient care. Therefore our Out-Patient Department has a major role to play in the provision of palliative care. We cater for HIV patients who are mobile and in need of ART and treatment for various opportunistic infections such as TB, skin disorders etc. These patients are monitored carefully and are provided with psycho-social and spiritual counselling. Currently 1,200 people access our Out-Patient Department Services each month.

Reception of Out-Patients Department

   ST. FRANCIS WARD

This unit is designed to stabilise patients who arrive in a critical condition, especially where there has been severe diarrhoea and vomiting. The giving of blood transfusion for patients with severe anaemia and the provision of oxygen for patients with breathing difficulties are other important functions of this department. After treatment here some of these patients may be discharged back to their homes, where they are monitored by Adherence Councillors, whilst others are admitted to the in-patient units.

   IN-PATIENT HOUSES / WARDS

There are 6 inpatients’ houses or wards, with each house catering for up to 6 patients. These houses became operational in August 2003.  The Hospice caters for up to on average inpatients a month.

 

    SPIRITUAL CARE

The Hospice enjoys the service of a full time Chaplain as well as visiting Ministers from different churches. These ensure that the spiritual needs of patients and their families are fully provided for.

  

 Fr Wildi, the Hospice Chaplain, visiting a patient.

 

Cardinal Medardo Mazombwe visiting a patient

   COUNSELLING:

Patients coming to the hospice are offered Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) for HIV with same-day results.