Introduction

HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal

HIV/AIDS is now a pandemic in South Africa, and KwaZulu-Natal Province has become the AIDS capital of the world.  In a recent sample of 800 high school children more than 30% were HIV positive. 30% of mothers attending pre-natal classes are HIV positive in the rural areas. 4.5 million in South Africa are HIV positive of a total population of 42 million, and estimates suggest that there will be 2.5 million AIDS orphans in 2008.

Many initiatives are being developed around palliative care programmes. Although, due to the enormity of the problem, it seems if little is being done. Research by the Rehoboth Trust has discovered that hospitals are housing an increasing number of babies and toddlers with AIDS who cannot be placed in house care and therefore the hospital ward is becoming their home. Nursing staff do not have enough time to give the much needed attention and so they decline rapidly. Dr Bill Hardy of Murchison hospital (a rural district hospital) and others have expressed their concern that, for this specific group of children, nothing is being done.

Dr. Bill Hardy, Medical Officer at Murchison Hospital has written: "Most of these children (HIV positive toddlers and babies) lie abandoned in hospital wards for months or even years – where many of them eventually die! I believe this vision would greatly benefit the children associated with our local community hospitals. Orphanages in our area are overcrowded and understaffed, and cannot meet the special needs of these ill babies. Moreover, there is a reluctance to accept these children into orphanages and house care".

Vision

Rehoboth's vision is: "To care for orphaned and abandoned children living with HIV/AIDS"

Mission Statement

To create comprehensive care and support facilities (children's villages) for a group of infected children living with HIV/AIDS who cannot be catered for within the community. The children's villages provide a homelike solution with intensive care and treatment (spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical and medical) throughout their lives.

Objective

The objective is to provide love and care for children living with HIV/AIDS who have been abandoned and who cannot be placed in foster care or adoption. The number of HIV positive children being abandoned with no one to care for them is reaching alarming proportions. Instead of the hospital being their home, Rehoboth creates children's villages consisting of 11 specially designed home units with four children each cared for by a housemother in a normal family setting.

Rehoboth Trust

Rehoboth is a Christian Interdenominational Charity. The Rehoboth Trust (IT 2120/97) administers the Rehoboth project and is a South African registered Non-Profit Organisation (12-129 NPO). Rehoboth has section 18a status with reference number: 18/11/13/1481. This means that donors from South Africa can claim a certain amount of their taxes back from the South African Revenue Services (SARS).

The Board of Trustees consist of local trustees. The Trust is administered by five South African Trustees. The daily responsibilities are in the hands of the Management Team. The Management Team is accountable towards the Trust and the Trust is end-responsible for Rehoboth towards its stakeholders. Missionary organisations can send volunteers to assist Rehoboth.

Endorsements

The following organisations have given their support and approval: Housing Department KwaZulu-Natal, Hibiscus Coast Municipality, NAG, (Network Action Group) - a network of service providers and government departments -, Murchison Hospital, Port Shepstone General Hospital, Child & Family Care Society (the welfare department in Port Shepstone), the Commissioner for Child Welfare at the Magistrate's Office (the government welfare department in Pietermaritzburg), Norwegian Settlers Church, OVCAG (Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Action Group) - a network organisation focusing on taking care of orphans, and CINDI - a network of organisations working for children in distress.