20 Jun 2017

A lot has been stressed on the need to help those in need.

Institutions have made their contributions in making Botswana a compassionate and caring nation.

One of such institution to heed the call is Pabalelong Hospice in Metsimotlhabe.

Located next to Ikageng Community Junior Secondary School, Pabalelong opened doors to its first patients in May 2010.

The hospice is owned by the Roman Catholic Church and administered by the sisters of charity of Nazareth.

Its existence came after seeing that many patients were lying at home with no beds since Princess Marina Referral Hospital was overwhelmed.

The driving factor was to alleviate  pain and suffering from patients and give them hope and comfort.

Despite having started with mostly HIV/AIDS patients, the centre now has cancer patients.

‘We felt if they can recover, they will, if not, they will die with love, dignity and care,’ said Chaplain Nalini Meachariyil.

Pabalelong offers spiritual and medical care, counselling and physiotherapy.

‘We have patients who come from as far as Nata, Zambia and Zimbabwe,’ said Sister Meachariyil.

The hospice has 10 beds and 18 staff members.

Further, the hospice has flexible visiting hours. “If a patient is terminally ill, their family members are allowed to be by their bed side 24 hours a day to give them love and support,” explained Chaplain Nalini Meachariyil.

Pabalelong also runs a home-based care, which has eight volunteers in Metsimotlhabe, Mmopane, Gamononyane and Gakuto.

Not only that, there are also 40 orphans and vulnerable children at Mmopane, who are also cared for by Pabalelong Hospice.

Sister Meachariyil says it gives her joy to be able to care for others as caring for the sick is caring for Jesus Christ.

She also added that extending a helping hand to those in need is her passion.

Every year on Hospice day, many patients come to give thanks and testify how Pabalelong Hospice has helped them.

‘It melts our hearts to see our previous patients fully recovered,’ said Sister Meachariyil.

While the mission and vision of Pabalelong warrants a standing ovation, the challenges overshadow the joy.

The running of the hospice costs P2 million a year, meaning a lot of expenditure for the Catholic Church.

Besides the expenses, the medical aid companies do not recognise the hospice.

Therefore, patients who have medical aid do not get the necessary financial assistance from such.

“We also try to remember death anniversaries of our patients. We keep records and on the day, we come together with their families and pray,” Sister Meachariyil explained.

In future, Pabalelong Hospice is planning to start bereavement care where they will be visiting families of those who have died.

In the mean time, the hospice visits those who were discharged once a year and gives them gifts.

The shortest patient-stay at Pabalelong to date was three days and the longest was eight months.

Sister Meachariyil explained that for one to be admitted at the hospice, a referral form has to be filled by a doctor.

From there a social worker will visit to assess both the patient and family, that is when a decision of whether the patient will be admitted or not will be taken.

The chaplain thanked Choppies, Mr. Veg and Metsimotlhabe Clinic for their support.

She also pleaded with companies and individuals to extend a helping hand to them. BOPA