21 Nov 2018

Two good Samaritans have embarked on a mission to assist and support caregivers after they go through a painful journey of losing their loved ones.

Coming from a family of natural caregivers has inspired Ms Thatayaone Seepo and Ms Bakani Johnson to start Leungo Na Rosinah House of Smiles, which provides accommodation to caregivers.

 The aim of the project is to avoid a situation where caregivers are forced to abandon their family members due to lack of accommodation in the city.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, Ms Seepo said her partner is a clinical psychologist and she used to see the appalling conditions of relatives who came to visit their hospitalised relatives, citing some bathed in toilets while others slept in benches in hospital waiting rooms.

“We realised we needed something sustainable and we came up with Musani Family Care Foundation to help caregivers coming from far to stay at our house for free,” she said.

Ms Seepo explained that their act of compassion was to give caregivers a welcoming environment to freshen up and rest so that they could take their minds off their grief.

Further, she explained that the project targeted the entire nation as even people who had medical aids may incur financial challenges when trying to source accommodation for their caretakers.

She also said their house was also open to other people such as those who travelled a long distance to reach medical facilities available only in Gaborone.

The house is a four bed-roomed facility and is fully furnished with en-suites.

Ms Seepo said they accommodate a maximum of eight people at a time.

Through this project, beneficiaries are provided with food, transport fare to the hospital and back, counselling and access to social workers where necessary.

Even after being discharged, the founder still visits caregivers and help where there is need as at some point they found a patient who had run out of prescription and they sourced medication for them.

The other service that is being provided is temporary accommodation for tertiary students who come to register at their respective institutions.

However, this service is done through social workers who write confirmation letters so that there is proof that indeed the student needs help.

At the moment, the two women are working on having a playroom at Princess Marina hospital for children who are hospitalised for a long time to give them cognitive and physical development.

The project got its start-up capital from the Atlantic Anthropologists from Ireland and they are hopeful the money will cover them for the next couple of months and that other companies will extend a helping hand in the form of skills share, clothes or prayers.

One of the beneficiaries of this project Ms Opelo Dethele from Sebina praised the initiative, saying she felt welcomed and was grateful for the spirit of Botho that led to the establishement of the house.

She said she did not have accommodation, but she got a sense of belonging as they ate together as caregivers.

“I like the way we were treated.”

Ms Dethele thanked the caregivers for accompanying them when they went for medical check-ups. Ms Dethele stayed at the house as her child was sick ENDS