Helping hand for orphans in South Africa

Ann Canfer spent a month helping in a South African township's medical centre.

Her role as part of a team of volunteers was to work with the nursing sister and local carers in Missionvale to set up a project for a home nursing service for people with HIV and Aids.

'It is estimated that 60-70 per cent of the population are HIV positive,' she explained.

'Many of the children have lost both parents and are brought up by a grandparent or an older sibling.

'Most are in corrugated iron, wood and plastic shacks, some more substantial than the others.

'A few have illegal electricity but most have primus stoves for cooking and paraffin lamps.

'Water is collected from standpipes.

'The toilets are a hole in the ground in a hut outside.'

The township is one of the poorest on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth.

It has 100,000 inhabitants but no doctor. The only medication available on the spot is Panadol or Ibuprofen bought by the medical centre.

The local hospital is chronically underfunded, short of staff and very dirty.

Recently retired community nurse Ann commented: 'You only go there if you are very ill. Medical supplies for the centre are bought by the volunteers.

'So, it's all very hit and miss.'

Ann (61), of North Bersted Street, helped to design posters in three languages '“ English, Afrikaans and Xhosa '“ to be distributed in shops and churches to increase awareness of the nursing service.

Only one in three residents are believed to know about it.

Ann also played a part in organised the service's office, getting the dressings classified and putting the paperwork in order.

She treated the women who worked in the service's kitchen providing a daily basic meal for 400 to 500 children.

She also treated some of the youngsters to reflexology and Indian head massage sessions.

'They enjoyed it. They get so little care and cherishing.

'It was a real treat for them,' added Ann.

The nursing service was started by Sister Ethel 20 years ago. AnAnn was tempted to volunteer after she read an article in Saga travellers' news about a woman's experiences in a South African township.