Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust Dear HACT Friends, Donors & Partners We are grateful for this opportunity to update you on some of the initiatives implemented as part of our team's COVID-19 emergency relief response over the past few weeks. Thank you to all those who have and continue to support our efforts during these uncertain and unprecedented times. Please stay safe and be sure to follow our Facebook page for daily updates... With much thanks and virtual hugs, The HACT Team
Emergency Food Relief for Vulnerable Families As part of our COVID19 emergency relief response, the HACT team has distributed 802 food hampers to vulnerable families living in the Valley of 1000 Hills over the past three weeks. These hampers have directly benefited 1771 adults and 1959 children. In addition to essential food items, our hampers have included life-saving disinfectants and hygiene items as well as COVID-19 educational material. A huge thank you to all our food hamper donors and partners, including the eMedia COVID-19 Relief Fund in partnership with the HCI Foundation. Watch the video below to see one of our team's food hamper distribution efforts in action...
COVID-19 Community Screening HACT’s OVC (Orphaned & Vulnerable Children’s) Programme team are currently being mobilized to conduct door-to-door community screening - a critical component of South Africa's rapid COVID-19 response programme. In partnership with the Department of Health and USAID, our case workers will be responsible for screening vulnerable families in order to aid in the prevention, identification, isolation and treatment of new coronavirus cases.
COVID-19 Education &
Supporting Orphaned &
Prevention
Vulnerable Children
"Empower a gogo and you
HACT's OVC (Orphaned & Vulnerable
empower a community..."
Children) team have been providing
Gogos (grandmothers) are the backbones of many rural households and communities and are therefore a key target group for our ongoing COVID-19 education and prevention
regular telephonic support to over 600 orphaned and vulnerable children and their families per week throughout South Africa's COVID-19 lockdown.
"I am grateful we can be a lifeline to these families during this
initiatives. Helping gogos and their families adjust to life under lockdown, secure emergency relief and look after their mental health and well being are all part of our holistic response to supporting these extraordinary women
crisis. Many have questions and need education around COVID-19 especially those with young children who are HIV positive..." Nontembenhle Hlongwane HACT OVC Case Worker
during this crisis.
United We Stand HACT's Respite Unit Remains Open Thanks to the dedication and commitment of our care staff, HACT's 24-bed Respite Unit has remained open throughout the national lockdown with our team continuing to provide 24/7 inpatient care to children and adults suffering from advanced stages of AIDS or cancer. In an effort to protect our patients, themselves and their families, many of our nurses and caregivers opted to avoid using public transport and sleep in HACT's onsite training centre which was converted into a dormitory at the start of the lockdown period.
"Morale in the Unit is still high despite many of our staff having not seen their families for weeks at a time. We are standing strong together and supporting each other during this difficult time..." Sphe Gamede, HACT Nursing Services Manager
HACT's Peer Educators Lead The Way Positive role modelling remains one of the most powerful tools in affecting social behaviour change. With this in mind, HACT's Peer Education Facilitators have been finding creative ways to continue supporting local young people while helping to mitigate the psycho-social impact of COVID-19 and all its far-reaching implications, particularly on vulnerable and at-risk youth living in under-resourced communities. Through targeted skills training and mentorship sessions as well as the creative use of social media and What's App, our Peer Education team has not only been able to continue educating, supporting and inspiring local youth, but helping to prevent them falling prey to the many social ills that the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown is currently fueling.
"From making videos on how to wash your hands correctly and the importance of social distancing, to counselling young people struggling with anxiety or issues at home, our facilitators continue to be a pillar of strength for vulnerable youth..." Lady-Love Msomi, HACT's Peer Education Programme Coordinator
Order Your Woza Moya
HACT Plant Nursery &
Face Masks Today
Haberdashery Are Open
Support local!
Opening Times:
Order your triple layer fabric face
Plant Nursery: Mon - Fri (8am - 4pm)
masks from HACT's Woza Moya team
Haberdashery: Mon -Fri (8am - 12pm)
today. Cost: R35 each (or R30 for 100 or more) Place your order with Paula at wozamoya@hillaids.org.za / 031 765 5866
Urgent Clothing Appeal Please donate your second hand clothing to HACT's Clothing Scheme. This Scheme currently supports over 30 unemployed women and their dependents who are in desperate need as a result of the lockdown! Clothing can be dropped at our gate Monday-Friday between 9am - 3pm.
May Madness - 20% off all plants & 50% off all aloes while stocks last! NB: Only card & Zapper payments will be accepted.
Thank you in advance for your support! NB: Our White Elephant Thrift Store is still closed so we are unable to accept donations of household items at this time.
How You Can Help Help us continue making a difference donate to HACT's COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund today! Click here to donate via Zapper or scan our QR Code... Donate online via our website Donate via EFT Bank: Nedbank Acc Name: Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust Acc No: 1147961433 Branch: Hillcrest SwiftCode: NEDSZAJJ Branch Code: 133826 Reference: Please use your full name All donations are tax deductible. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust Registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO No. 005-800) 26 Old Main Road Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Tel: +27 (0)31 765 5866 Email: info@hillaids.org.za Website: www.hillcrestaids.org.za