From the Project

November 1st , 2011, Let's Celebrate!

Thank you! When Edzimkulu was established eight years ago our goal was to move from aid and development to sustainability. We are standing on the threshold of realizing that goal. We are deeply grateful to the Friends of Edzimkulu who have participated in small and large ways on our journey.

Clinic Waiting Room

As you know eight years ago we were driven to make a difference in Ndawana, South Africa. Our focus included health and education, with a sustainable health care initiative being our highest priority. Today Ndawana is home to a fully functional clinic facilitating over 1,200 patient visits per month. We are leaders in the United Nations Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) initiative, having been recognized as the single best model in all of South Africa for early intervention with children under the age of two around HIV, TB, malnutrition, diarrhea and pneumonia through home based care. Ninety percent of mothers in our program who are HIV positive are now accessing treatment and their babies are being tested for HIV.

Sustainability has always been our goal and to that end we are in the final stages of making all our programs and services sustainable. It is our intention to transfer our health care programs and clinic operations to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health (DOH) and our training programs to TB/HIV Care, a South African NGO, on April 1, 2012.

We have already reached our goal of sustainability in the following areas:

• The Department of Health and TB/HIV Care have absorbed 29 of our 31 employees;
  
• The health clinic is now an official government recognized South African clinic with a budget of R 2.1 million ($300,000 Canadian);
  
• Large scale gender justice and HIV education, counseling and treatment programs are in place, so positive attitudes and practices will continue to grow;
  

• Weighing Baby

  Our preschool continues to provide early education and nutritious meals to local children. The South African government is now funding the teachers’ salaries and progress is being made toward long term funding.

Eight years ago we began the journey to assist the orphans of the HIV pandemic in Ndawana. Initially we were providing food packages including items like rice, powdered milk, oil and candles to over 200 orphans. We have now successfully obtained the appropriate government support for all but 62 of them. Sadly these are the children who have fallen through the government cracks with support being highly unlikely for reasons such as parents dying and no death certificate being issued. Without a death certificate it is impossible to prove that the children are actually orphaned. The estimated amount required to continue to provide basic food packages for these orphans until they finish high school is approximately $45,000 in today’s currency. We have not yet attained sustainability for this program but are working on a strategy for securing ongoing support either in South Africa or from Canadian sources.

As we draw nearer to our end date our hard work continues. This year’s projects include:

• Construction of a clinic waiting room that is designed to minimize the spread of infectious diseases, especially exposure to TB, which is a serious health threat to anyone with HIV;
  
• Addressing the crucial issue of housing for nurses with the construction of a nurse’s residence, which in turn assists in attracting nursing professionals to the community;
  
• Important new work in the area of gender equality as it relates to HIV prevention.

HIV Testing

With these programs completed by spring 2012, we can transfer responsibility for our programs confident that the legacy of Edzimkulu will continue in the very capable hands of those entrusted to complete this work. Although Edzimkulu will officially wind down in the spring of 2012, our founders Jim and Chris Newton intend to continue a part-time presence in South Africa helping to ensure our sustainability goals.

While Edzimkulu is an amazing success story, the transfer to the Kwazulu-Natal Department of Health and TB /HIV Care on April 1, 2012 will be very emotional for all involved. Friends of Edzimkulu can feel very proud that we have accomplished what few NGO’s ever manage.

So again we say “Let’s celebrate!” You have been a part of a major success story in assisting the community of Ndawana and far beyond its boundaries to experience the caring and compassion of a community of friends half way around the world. Together we said, “we see you,” “we hear you” and “we care.”

Together we have Changed Lives.

With sincere thanks and gratitude,

The Board of Directors,

Edzimkulu A Society for Children of AIDS

Ngiyabonga – Thank you