Through our residential programme we provide care to those in stage 4 of the disease who have nobody else to care for them or whose care giver is in need of a respite care service. The care centre is not a high tech facility offering extensive medication or advanced medical care. It is a place providing clean beds, decent food, a degree of palliative care (e.g. pain relief) and above all a warm, loving environment for terminally ill people to spend their last days. The centre is recognised by the regional hospital serving the Mpophomeni area, the HIV clinic at Grey’s hospital, the local CDC Clinic and other NGOs working in the area, all of which refer patients through to the centre. Staff have been fully trained in Home Based Care by the Howick Hospice and are overseen by a qualified nursing sister, Louise Stobart.

Our patient statistics tell a story that if you combine good nutrition, with correct medication and lots of love, then AIDS sufferers close to death can get well. In 2009 and 2010, over 40% of our patients went home jumping with joy after 6 weeks care at Ethembeni.