01 Mar 2016

Community home based care coordinator for Serowe district health management team, Ms Thapiso Chamme, has called for establishment of more hospice centres in the country.

Speaking during the donation of food hampers, blankets and mattress  to home based patients by St Lydia Apostolic church at Mogorosi over the weekend, Ms Chamme said hospice centres in Molepolole, Otse and Ramotswa could not accommodate all patients with terminal and  advanced illness.

Consequently, she challenged organisations including churches, business community and community at large to consider building hospice around the country, saying that hospice was a noble cause.

“You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die”Ms Chamme cited one of the quotes of the founder of hospice, Dame Cicely Saunders.

She bemoaned that   some home based patients lived in isolation with no one taking care of them for certain reasons, citing that some were  neglected by family members  because  they (patients)shunned the  family members  during their  heydays.

On one hand, she said some patients still possessed pride that they would not be taken care of by specific individuals, while some care takers were growns ups who were unable to help the patient to take treatment or help them with anything.

Ms Chamme  said the establishments of more hospice centrs would enable or relief people taking care of patients to work productively at their respective work without worrying about  sick relatives at home.

She said even day care hospices could ease challenges facing   the home based patients and their care takers.
For his part, the church Arch bishop Gabolekane Batenjane implored the home based patients to follow advices from the health official and follow medication precautions. Ends