There was much joy at Lambano Sanctuary, in Wychwood, recently, when a dream of the facility came true.
Having noted Lambano’s unique approach to palliative care, Naledi Projects Luxembourg and the Luxembourg government were inspired to invest in the upgrading of the sanctuary’s hospice/step down unit from a 12-bed to an 18-bed facility.
The hospice, situated in Senator Road, needed to be upgraded so that it could be in the position to offer its much-needed services to more disadvantaged children.
Lyn Croote, the executive director of Lambano, said: “We saw a need for a treatment room at the hospice and now, along with this, we have also been blessed with more beds.
“This is a long-time dream come true.”
Croote added that Lambano strives to be a centre of excellence, quality care and much love,and all the staff have a passion to see that children’s lives are transformed for the better.
At the recent relaunch of the hospice/step down facility,Croote thanked Naledi Projects Luxembourg and the Luxembourg government for helping Lambano to complete this project.
Founded in 2001, Lambano Sanctuary is a fully registered residential care and support facility to 30 orphaned and vulnerable children, infected with HIV.
Lambano has two key programmes, namely the homes and the paediatric hospice/step down facility.
Each of the four homes accommodate seven to eight children and a permanent, residing, dedicated housemother.
The paediatric hospice/step down facility, which has now been upgraded to an 18-bed facility, enables Lambano the chance to offer its services to many more needy children.
The hospice is accredited by the Hospice Palliative Care Association of SA (HPCA).
With this accreditation the facility is strictly monitored and evaluated in every aspect, from financial management and governance to broader quality assurance, pertaining to implementation.
The palliative care programme is focused on disadvantaged children suffering from critical health problems, like renal, cardiac, brain damage, burns, respiratory issues and cancer.
Through quality care, treatment and support, Lambano is able to successfully nurse the children back to health, maintaining a very low death rate.
Of the 110 children admitted to the hospice since its establishment in 2009, Lambano has suffered only 16 deaths.
This is a success rate considering that the majority of the children are terminally ill or HIV-positive.
